No end to Karnataka power crisis: 2 MLAs defy Congress gag, endorse DK Shivakumar as CM

Karnataka's Deputy CM Shivakumar affirmed his support for CM Siddaramaiah and the Congress high command's decisions.

After the Congress ruled out leadership change in Karnataka, fresh calls have surfaced demanding that deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar be elevated to the top post have once again emerged.

Two Congress MLAs have renewed their demand.

Senior Congress leader and former minister Tanveer Sait said the party must remain open to transition. "I feel leadership can’t be stagnant. New leadership has to come and grow. Whenever the opportunity is given, it’ll happen. But individual giving out statements shouldn’t be considered as protest," Sait told the media.

Congress MLA CP Yogeshwar also echoed similar sentiment “All our district MLAs are united that DK should become chief minister. There’s no discrepancies about it. High command should decide on it," he said.

However, these comments drew a swift response from senior party leader Randeep Surjewala, who had been sent to Bengaluru last week to broker peace between the Siddaramaiah and DKS camps.

"The KPCC (i.e., the Congress' Karnataka unit) chief and I have spoken about this... everyone can have ambitions and desires. I don't want to say anything more," Surjewala said.

There has been speculation within political circles, especially within the ruling Congress, for some time now about the Chief Minister change later this year, citing power-sharing agreement involving Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar.

Siddaramaiah recently said he serve the full five-year term in office.

“Yes, I will continue as Chief Minister. Why do you have doubts?” Siddaramaiah told PTI.

According to reports, Siddaramaiah and his deputy are expected to meet the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Wednesday night.

What does BJP say?

Karnataka BJP State President BY Vijayendra claimed that Congress MLAs have lost confidence in Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and so have the people of the state.

Speaking to the media, Vijayendra said, "Even if there is a change in leadership, it will make no difference to us or the people of the state."

He further added that Karnataka's financial system has completely collapsed under the leadership of CM Siddaramaiah. "No matter who becomes the Chief Minister, it will not be possible for the state to witness development," he responded to another query.

Vijayendra said that political instability is "haunting" the development of Karnataka.