Another Siddaramaiah loyalist, Dinesh Gundu Rao, made similar remarks, further testing Siddaramaiah’s tenuous relationship with Shivakumar.
Karnataka CM tussle: Taking a jibe at the controversy, BJP’s Karnataka unit said that Shivakumar is not going to become CM and Siddaramaiah will not allow him to become CM.
A day after senior Congress leader MB Patil claimed that the chief minister’s post would not be bifurcated, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah’s deputy DK Shivakumar gave a sharp and direct response: “Let people say whatever they have to say”.
“There is an AICC general secretary and an AICC president, both of whom will take calls,” the deputy CM was quoted as saying. times of India, The report added that Shivakumar’s MP brother DK Suresh said he could “react sharply” to Patil, but “I choose not to do so in the interest of the party”.
“Siddaramaiah is the chief minister now. For any such issue (whether the current chief minister will get a full term), you can approach Randeep Singh Surjewala (AICC general secretary in-charge of Karnataka),” Suresh had said. times of India,
MB PatilKnown to be a Siddaramaiah loyalist, had said, “Siddaramaiah will be the CM for five years. If there was a power-sharing agreement, senior leaders would have informed us.”
Another Siddaramaiah loyalist, Dinesh Gundu Rao, made similar remarks, further testing Siddaramaiah’s tenuous relationship with Shivakumar. Rao claimed that the AICC leadership was clear about Shivakumar continuing as deputy CM and state Congress president till the Lok Sabha elections.
“Apart from this, there has been no other discussion. Was there any discussion about Siddaramaiah’s replacement in 2013?” Rao was quoted.
times of India The report further states that Patil was asked whether his statement was in violation of Surjewala’s diktat for Congress members not to speak or speculate about the high command’s decision.
As per reports, Patil replied that he had told AICC general secretary KC Venugopal when the names of the new chief minister and deputy chief minister were announced on May 18.
Hitting out at the controversy, BJP’s Karnataka unit said, “Shivkumar is not going to become the chief minister, and @siddaramaiah will not let him (one) become.”
D.K. Shivkumar is not going to become CM, he is going to become @siddaramaiahWe will not leave. @MBPatilFrom this statement of S. @DKShivakumar Just sent a direct warning to them! However, after getting the majority, how can this government survive considering all the developments so far? pic.twitter.com/X82vK3KGjz
— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) May 23, 2023
Many in the Congress had earlier claimed that the CM’s post would be shared by Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar for 30 months, with the latter continuing as KPCC president till next year’s Lok Sabha elections.
Sunday Guardian Political scientist and poll analyst Sandeep Shastri is quoted as saying: “It was expected (Shivkumar staking claim for the chief minister’s post) as DKS was jockeying for the best deal. And he got it.”
“What I have called 1+1+1, election of deputy CM, portfolios, and continuation as KPCC president. It will be an interesting partnership that will need to be nurtured consciously and kept on track.
