Bengaluru, 20 Jan

Former MP DK Suresh said that the party High Command, including Rahul Gandhi, asked his brother and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar to be patient amid the ongoing power tussle for the Chief Ministerial post. Shivakumar is patiently waiting, he added.

“The party has already asked him to be patient. (Congress leader) Rahul Gandhi, during the meeting in Mysuru, also said that an appropriate decision would be taken at the right time,” Suresh told press on Thursday, reiterating that Shivakumar has been a disciplined soldier of the party.

Suresh added that Gandhi, as a national leader, has “to think about politics across the country”.

However, “in the interest of the party and legislators, and intending to keep all 140 legislators together, he is patiently waiting for the party’s decision,” Suresh added.

On whether there was a deadline for patience, Suresh said it was written in Shivakumar’s fate that he would become CM.

On concerns that a leadership change could affect votes from certain communities, Suresh stressed the party’s inclusive approach. “A politician needs Vokkaliga votes, Lingayat votes, as well as SC and ST votes. Appeasing one section alone won’t help. Every vote counts. Caste-based politics hampers development at both state and national levels.”

Suresh also highlighted Shivakumar’s loyalty to the party rather than to any individual leader. "While some people are loyal to personalities or power, Shivakumar has always stood by the party in all situations, whether in power or not. He sees everything patiently”.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said he would travel to New Delhi if summoned by the High Command to discuss the leadership row.

Ballots at GBA polls a step back: DK Suresh

Congress leader DK Suresh on Tuesday expressed reservations over Karnataka’s decision to hold local body elections using ballot papers, saying he felt it was “not needed”. Suresh, brother of Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress president DK Shivakumar, added that it was for the party high command to decide whether to “step back” after having “gone a step ahead” with Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

His remarks differ from the official stance of the Congress government, which in September recommended to the State Election Commission (SEC) that future panchayat and urban local body polls be conducted using ballot papers, citing erosion of public confidence in electronic voting.

On Monday, Karnataka State Election Commissioner G S Sangreshi confirmed that elections to the five city corporations under the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) will be held after 25 May using ballot papers.