Questions regarding the future of Karnataka’s chief ministerial role resurfaced recently when Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said that time will decide whether he will get the coveted role or not. This development comes after he celebrated his 65th birthday on May 15.
With wishes pouring in from all directions, his supporters intensified calls for current Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to step down from his post and make way for Shivakumar amid a tense political tussle in the state.
“Time will tell Muhurta,” Shivakumar told reporters in Chamarajanagara in response to questions about his assumption of the top job. He later added: “The time will come, and the right time will come.”
There are high expectations that the two men will soon be summoned to Delhi by the Congress leadership amid talks on a cabinet reshuffle. When asked if his frequent visits to the temple indicated his desire to get the coveted post soon, Shivakumar replied: “You are there like God. People are God.”
The Karnataka Congress tussle first began when Siddaramaiah took over as state chief minister in 2023, under the promise of a power-sharing agreement with Shivakumar, where the pair would split the post for two-and-a-half years each.
However, even though the Siddaramaiah government is entering its third year, he does not appear to be ceding the seat to Shivakumar, a decision that appears to have angered the latter’s supporters, prompting them to hold demonstrations and demand a change of power.
KN Rajana suggests G Parameshwara
Home Minister G Parameshwara recently commented on the Congress’ lack of clarity regarding party leadership in the state. “Unnecessarily, why would they? Who raised the issue of change? Yesterday, the Deputy Prime Minister himself made it clear that he did not ask for any change. Where did this question come from? Who raised such a question?” He said.
“There is a senior leadership in the party that will decide what to do and when. Anyone who makes statements to the media will not achieve anything. The senior leadership has to decide. What is the benefit of discussing the proposal to change or continue the prime minister? We are not the ones who will decide this matter while we are sitting here.”
He further clarified that as per his understanding no end had been put in place for Siddaramaiah’s tenure as Chief Minister when he was appointed. He added: “We are not aware of this. Neither the Secretary-General nor anyone from the senior leadership told us anything about such a matter.”
Senior Congress MLA KN Rajana recently added Parameshwara to the mix by proposing him as a key ministerial candidate. This exacerbates the growing demand for a ‘Dalit CM’ in the state following the request of several AHINDA (short for Minorities, Backward Classes and Dalits in Canada) leaders in the party to keep Siddaramaiah in the desired place.
Parameshwara responded to Rajanna’s remarks by saying, “He (Rajanna) is from our area, and he is my friend. We studied together. Naturally, he liked me and asked for a chance for Tumakuru. I don’t find anything wrong with that.”
Shivakumar’s 65th birthday celebrations
Siddaramaiah had wished Shivakumar on his birthday with a post on
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your warm wishes. Let us strive together for progress in Karnataka,” Shivakumar wrote in response.
His supporters, on the other hand, took a different stance to mark the occasion by putting up hoardings across the city naming him as Prime Minister, including one written by KPCC secretary Veerabhadraya. Shivakumar is currently the president of KPCC.
In the wake of recent turmoil on internal party lines in Kerala, the current situation in Karnataka is just one of a series of examples of growing discord in Congress-run state governments.
