Siddaramaiah dismisses leadership change buzz, says he will serve full term

Siddaramaiah

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday dismissed speculation that he would step aside to make way for his deputy, DK Shivakumar, insisting he will complete a full five-year term.

The chatter began after former Congress MP LR Shivarame Gowda publicly claimed Shivakumar would assume the chief minister’s post in November, fuelling rumours of a mid-term power shift within the ruling Congress in the state.

Speaking to reporters in Mysuru, where he attended the Dasara celebrations, Siddaramaiah said: “I will be the chief minister for a full five-year term.” However, he added that he would abide by any decision of the party high command in Delhi. “Whatever the high command decides, we have to go by it,” he said.

Party insiders admit to underlying friction between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar. While Shivakumar is said to be reasserting himself through his supporters following a controversy over singing the RSS anthem in the assembly, Siddaramaiah has been inspecting Bengaluru’s roads — a portfolio held by Shivakumar — signalling his firm grip on governance.

Gowda urged the Congress leadership to “clear the confusion” by November, saying there was no doubt Shivakumar would eventually become chief minister, though the timing would be decided by the high command.

Meanwhile, senior ministers, including Housing Minister BZ Zameer Ahmad and Home Minister G Parameshwara, denied talk of a November transition. They said Siddaramaiah would remain in office for the full term, though a cabinet reshuffle was possible.

Parameshwara clarified he was unaware of any internal “2.5-year term-sharing” formula between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar.