Bengaluru, 10 Feb

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said in Bengaluru that he has “no confusion” over the leadership issue involving Chief Minister Siddaramaiah as they have discussed the matter in presence of the Congress High Command.

Shivakumar also warned the local party functionaries against making any statements on the CM change subject, as he departed for New Delhi.

“There is no confusion. Others may have confusion, I don’t have any confusion,” Shivakumar said in Bengaluru on Tuesday.

“I know what Siddaramaiah and I have discussed. We have not discussed it secretly. We have discussed involving our party leadership. Others taking tension and making statements on the issue won’t help anyone,” he said.

He reminded party leaders and legislators of AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge’s earlier statement asking everyone in the Congress to “shut their mouth” and discharge their duties.

“Whoever is making statements, either in my favour or against me, whether they are Ministers or Legislators, they are damaging the party. Such statements won’t do any good for the party. Mallikarjun Kharge had said that it will be good if everyone shut their mouth. We should all abide by it,” Shivakumar, also the State Congress President, added.

His comments came amid the power struggle between him and Siddaramaiah once again coming to the fore, with the latter’s son and MLC Yathindra last week insisting that the High Command had given a clear signal that his father would complete his full five year tenure.

Notably, Shivakumar went to Delhi despite Siddaramaiah holding pre-budget meetings. He said he requested the CM for permission.  He noted that Siddaramaiah is also the Chairman of the Irrigation department.

He said the officials will meet Siddaramaiah on Mekedatu balancing reservoir.

Shivakumar also said that he has ordered forming a Special Investigation Team (SIT) in the Revenue Department against the nexus to loot the irrigation department in a planned way.

Asked if he would meet party leaders in Delhi, Shivakumar said: “I keep meeting my party leaders and share my difficulties, sorrows, joys and aspirations”.

Later in the day, Shivakumar met with Congress about the Assam general elections scheduled for April-May, where he has been appointed as the party’s poll observer along with former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel.

Meanwhile, Siddaramaiah reiterated that the High Command’s decision is final.

When asked if he had been invited to Delhi, Siddaramaiah said no. “Why should I go if I am not invited…. There is no use of you asking unnecessary questions."

However when reporters insisted, Siddaramaiah got upset and lashed out.

 ‘80-90 MLAs asked High Command to make DKS CM’s Ramanagara Congress MLA Iqbal Hussain said that 80-90 party MLAs had asked the High Command to make DK Shivakumar the Chief Minister.  He said on Monday in Ramanagar: "We have left it for the high command. 80-90 MLAs have requested the high command to give a chance to DK Shivakumar (for the CM post)…. We don't like him (MLC Yathindra Siddaramaiah) speaking in favour of his father again and again and embarrassing the High Command... Every father loves son, and son loves father, but in politics, we have to act with discipline. Provoking others with such statements shouldn't happen."