‘No vacancy for CM post in Karnataka’: Siddaramaiah stands firm under pressure

New Delhi/Bengaluru: Amid talk of leadership change in Karnataka, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday dismissed speculation saying there is "no vacancy" for the top post.

Siddaramaiah asserted that he would complete his five-year tenure as chief minister and brushed aside talk of him paving the way for his deputy D K Shivakumar to take over later this year.

"Is there any vacancy for chief ministership? I am very much here before you. I am the chief minister of Karnataka. That is what D K Shivakumar has said, and I am also saying it... There is no vacancy (for CM post)," he told reporters in Delhi when asked about any change of leadership in Karnataka.

There has been speculation of Siddaramaiah stepping down amid some sections of MLAs pitching for Shivakumar for the CM's post later this year when the government completes 2.5 years in November.

The chief minister asserted that the Congress national general secretary in charge of Karnataka, Randeep Singh Surjewala, has categorically ruled out any such move and his deputy Shivakumar has also stated so.

"Surjewala has clearly said there is no change in the leadership. The leadership issue is not in the discussion. When he said this, why is there speculation? He is in charge of Karnataka, and when he has said there should not be any speculation, the media is still speculating. There is no discussion about this within the party," Siddaramaiah said.

The chief minister said that the party high command's decision would be final and binding. "We agreed to it and conveyed the same multiple times."

On questions about a potential power-sharing arrangement, Siddaramaiah said, "It is natural to raise such issues when the government is completing two and a half years, but it does not mean such an agreement was there. If such an agreement existed, I would not have said recently that I will be the CM for five years."

Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar are in the national capital amid talk of leadership change in Karnataka. Several ministers and senior leaders in the state have made statements over change of guard later this year.

Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar held a meeting in Delhi with AICC general secretary Surjewala and held discussions over some pending appointments.

Sources said the leaders are learnt to have discussed appointments of chairpersons of various boards and corporations and fill up vacancies in the Legislative Council.

Meanwhile, several key ministers in the Karnataka cabinet on Thursday huddled with AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge at his residence in Bengaluru.

Siddaramaiah earlier wondered why there was any such rumour while he was still in the post.

"Is the CM post vacant now? Then why is there such speculation? If someone shares a personal opinion, can that be the party's decision? Kharge and Rahul Gandhi should talk about this," he said.

On a cabinet reshuffle, he said, "No discussion has been done on the change of leadership and cabinet reshuffle. No discussion has taken place. D K Shivakumar (the deputy chief minister) himself said there is no vacancy for the CM post."

Siddaramaiah defended his government's policies, stating, "The government has taken decisions after much discussion on programmes that can uplift the downtrodden."

In Bengaluru, some ministers who met Kharge claimed that it was a courtesy meeting as the Congress president was in the city, few said they discussed political developments in the state, but refused to divulge details.

The ministers who met Kharge include -- Home Minister G Parameshwara, Law Minister H K Patil, Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre, PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi, Social Welfare Minister H C Mahadevappa, Housing Minister B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan, Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao and Medical Education Minister Sharan Prakash Patil.

"It was a cordial meeting as our national president had come, we met him. He inquired about the government's current activities and we discussed it, also the political situation," Jarkiholi said.

When asked about the meeting taking place against the backdrop of the CM's statement, he said the meeting was fixed about three days ago and the statement came only this morning. "There is no connection".

Khandre and Rao, not sharing as to what transpired at the meeting, stated that all speculation in the media should be put to rest, as Siddaramaiah and high command have clarified that leadership change was not on cards.

Earlier in the day, Congress MLC and Siddaramaiah's son Yathindra asserted that his father will complete a full five-year term in office.

He said any decision on the leadership change has to be made by the Congress high command and MLAs.

Jarkiholi, earlier today, reacting to the CM's statement on continuing in office, said there is nothing new in it, as he had reiterated what he said recently, and the media has to now put an end to speculation about the chief minister change.

Only 10 per cent of legislators in the party may be discussing leadership change, Jarkiholi, who is considered close to Siddaramaiah, said. The CM's reiteration about completing a full five years term is a clear message for them. "Match close...", he added.

Responding to a question about Siddaramaiah's reported statement that Shivakumar has the support of fewer MLAs, he said, "There was voting done (at the legislature party meeting) while choosing CM after 2023 assembly polls, and as Siddaramaiah got majority votes (of MLAs), he was made the chief minister. On the basis of that, he might have said that he has the support of more MLAs."

Mahadevappa, another confidant of Siddaramaiah, said the latter was announced as the CM after high command gathered the opinion of MLAs at the legislature party meeting, following the assembly poll results in 2023.

Meanwhile, Kunigal MLA Ranganath reiterating his wish that Shivakumar become the CM said the latter has worked for 40 years to build the party and he was the main reason for party getting 140 seats in the assembly polls.

"Party workers and many legislators wish that Shivakumar becomes the CM one day, the high command will decide..." he said.

Taking a dig at ruling Congress, BJP leader R Ashoka said the ruling party today is a court of contention, and its leaders are more preoccupied with power than with people.

"... now that Siddaramaiah has declared himself the supreme leader, Kharge finally has his answer, the real high command of Congress isn't in Delhi. It's in Bengaluru," he said.

There was stiff competition between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar for the chief minister's post after the declaration of assembly election results in May 2023, and the Congress had managed to convince the latter and made him the Deputy CM.