Bengaluru/Chikkaballapura, 2 July

With Siddaramaiah asserting that he will be the Chief Minister of Karnataka for a full five-year term, Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, who has made no secret his aspiration for the post said, "What option I have? I have to stand by him, support him.”

He said he will fulfil the directions of the Congress high command.

“I don't have any objection to it,” Shivakumar told press in response to a question about Siddaramaiah’s statement. “Whatever the party high command tells and whatever it desires, it will be fulfilled."

Asked whether the party is not backing him and that his supporters are rooting for him to become CM, he said, "I don't want to discuss anything. Lakhs of workers have supported this party. It is not only DK Shivakumar."

Speaking to reporters in Chikkaballapura earlier in the day, Siddaramaiah asserted that he will be in office for a full five-year term.

Meanwhile, Congress General Secretary in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala continued his one-on-one meetings with party MLAs for the third consecutive day.

State BJP President BY Vijayendra claimed that Surjewala came to "prepare grounds" for Siddaramaiah's resignation.

Similarly, Leader of Opposition R Ashoka said “CM change is definite in October or November”.

Siddaramaiah, however, dismissed the BJP’s speculations, calling them “experts at lying”.