Mysuru/Koppal, 5 Oct

Karnataka BJP President BY Vijayendra on Sunday predicted a major political shake-up in the state after the Bihar elections, pointing to internal Congress debates over a possible change in Chief Minister.

He claimed rifts between CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar are growing, with Congress legislators openly discussing a leadership shift.

 “Siddaramaiah is in a hurry. His recent show of strength in Mysuru indicates this,” Vijayendra said, citing comments from Congress MLAs H.D. Ranganath and L.R. Shivarame Gowda, who said Shivakumar may take over in November.

He criticised the Congress government as “zero development, anti-poor, and anti-farmer,” and slammed its inadequate response to floods in North Karnataka. “The BJP will act as a responsible opposition,” he added.

Meanwhile, Congress MLA and CM’s Economic Advisor Basavaraj Rayareddy dismissed talk of a change as “irrelevant.” Speaking in Koppal, he said Siddaramaiah was elected CM through a majority vote of Congress legislators and is expected to complete his five-year term. “We were not told Siddaramaiah would step down midway,” he said, reiterating that any change is the party high command’s decision.

 He also downplayed speculation about Shivakumar’s succession, saying, “Even I have won as many elections as Shivakumar. Anyone can aspire to be CM.” Rayareddy insisted there is no internal revolt and denied any “October-November revolution.”

While speculation lingers around an informal power-sharing deal, no official confirmation has emerged.

Siddaramaiah, too, recently reaffirmed he would serve the full term.