Sidda vs DKS: Pro-Shivakumar MLAs fly to Delhi, will continue if high command decides, says CM

Bengaluru, Nov 24 (PTI) As the Siddaramaiah versus D K Shivakumar battle for the Chief Minister's post in Karnataka intensifies, more MLAs supporting the latter are dashing to Delhi in an apparent bid to hold parleys for his elevation while the incumbent said on Monday that he will continue in the top post if the party high command decides.

With six MLAs from the Shivakumar camp landing in Delhi and more likely to join them, besides those who had already visited the national capital, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the high command takes the ultimate call on the leadership change, and that it should be accepted by himself as well as his deputy.

"We will abide by the high command decision. If they decide I should continue (as CM), I will continue. Ultimately, whatever the high command decides, I should accept it. Shivakumar should also accept it," Siddaramaiah told reporters here.

Asked if Shivakumar would become the CM, he said, "When I have said the high command will decide, you are asking me the same thing again." The veteran leader's remarks came amidst supporters of Shivakumar, also the state Congress chief, flying to Delhi.

At least six legislators backing deputy CM Sivakumar landed in the national capital on Sunday night to meet Congress leaders, even as a rumoured power-sharing agreement between the top two leaders in 2023 has only fuelled the speculations.

As the Congress government completed its 2.5 years of term on November 20, there have been speculations that there may be a CM change, which is being referred to by some as the "November revolution" in light of the power-sharing agreement between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar when the party won the 2023 Assembly polls.

Incidentally, former KPCC chief and Home Minister G Parameshwara has also thrown his hat in the ring, amid calls for a Dalit CM to take over the reins.

Besides the six pro-Shivakumar MLAs who are in Delhi now, few more legislators are likely to travel soon to pitch for the KPCC chief as CM, party sources said.

The MLAs who are in Delhi are -- H C Balakrishna, K M Uday, Nayana Motamma, Iqbal Hussain, Sharath Bachegowd and Shivaganga Basavaraj, sources added.

Siddaramaiah had earlier met AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, who is in Bengaluru. The Congress chief is scheduled to travel to Delhi, and top party leader Rahul Gandhi is likely to return from abroad, sources said in an indication that the matter might be discussed between the two.

Kharge has also stated that the Congress high command will decide on the matter.

Last week, about 10 MLAs supporting Shivakumar travelled to New Delhi and met Kharge, as the Congress government completed 2.5 years in office on November 20.

Shivakumar, however, had then said he was not aware of legislators travelling to Delhi to meet Kharge.

Subsequently, Siddaramaiah on Saturday held more than an hour long meeting with Kharge at his residence here.

While Siddaramaiah is pushing for a reshuffle of his Cabinet, Shivakumar wants the party to first decide on leadership change, Congress sources have said.

According to several party insiders, if the Congress high command approves the Cabinet reshuffle, it would signal that Siddaramaiah will complete the full five-year term, which will scuttle the chances of Shivakumar from occupying the top post. PTI KSU SA