Bengaluru, 12 July

After Chief Minister Siddaramaiah ruled out any change in leadership and asserted he would complete his full term, State Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar stirred speculation with a metaphor-laden remark, saying, "It is difficult to find a chair. When you find a chair, you have to come and sit on the raft."

Shivakumar made the remark while inaugurating the Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Jayanti celebrations organised by the Bangalore Bar Association on Friday.

"There are so many chairs, come and sit. It is difficult to find a chair. When you find a chair, you have to come and sit on the raft. If you look at yourself, you look like tyagis," he said, addressing lawyers present at the event.

During the event, Shivakumar also announced a series of measures to support the Bar Association, including the allocation of 10 acres of land, financial grants, and annual awards in the name of Kempegowda.

He said Rs 5 crore would be provided from the Greater Bangalore Authority (GBA) for the association's development, Rs 5 lakh annually for Kempegowda Jayanti celebrations, and two lawyers would be honoured each year with the Kempegowda Award.