Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who is in the national capital amid speculation of a leadership change in the state, asserted Thursday that there was “no vacancy” for the CM post and dismissed talk of him making way for his deputy D K Shivakumar.
“What (Deputy CM) D K Shivakumar has said, I am also saying the same thing. There is no vacancy. I am very much here before you. I am the chief minister of Karnataka,” Siddaramaiah told reporters on Thursday.
Shivakumar, who is also in Delhi, has publicly denied talk of a change of guard.
Siddaramaiah said that the Congress national general secretary in charge of Karnataka, Randeep Singh Surjewala, has categorically ruled out any such move.
“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? There is no discussion about this within the party,” Siddaramaiah said.
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.”
The chief minister said that the party high command’s decision would be final and binding. “If someone shares a personal opinion, can that be the party’s decision? (Mallikarjun) Kharge and Rahul Gandhi should talk about this,” he said.
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Siddaramaiah said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had not invited him for any discussion on the matter, but he was due to meet Surjewala.
On a cabinet reshuffle, he said: “No discussion has been done on the change of leadership and cabinet reshuffle. No discussion has taken place. Shivakumar himself said there is no vacancy for the CM post.”
Siddaramaiah arrived in Delhi on Wednesday and Shivakumar landed the next day. Both checked in at the Karnataka Bhavan.
What gave further grist to the speculation mill was Shivakumar’s move to occupy the CM suite in the bhavan’s new annexe building following his arrival.
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Siddaramaiah moved into the CM suite in the old bhavan building. He had stayed at the new annexe’s CM suite during his previous visit but had not liked its facilities and complained of its lack of ventilation before shifting to the old building, sources said.
Seeing the annexe suite empty after arriving, Shivakumar moved in after taking the CM’s permission, sources said.
Significantly, both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar held separate press conferences Wednesday. Both went to meet Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in the afternoon together, following which Siddaramaiah returned to Karnataka Bhavan and addressed the media. Shivakumar did not return to the bhavan with the CM, and instead visited Connaught Place to see a multi-level car parking there.
