Mysuru, 7 March

A day after presenting his record 17th budget, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stated that if the party High Command allows him to, he will present two more budgets.

The comments come amid speculations of a power tussle with his Deputy DK Shivakumar. Siddaramaiah has insisted that he would present the 17th Budget, raising questions about whether he would continue as the CM after doing so.

Speaking to reporters in Mysuru, he reiterated that his position to continue in the top post rests with the High Command.

“I will continue as CM until the High Command decides, and will present the remaining two other budgets of this five-year term. The decision of continuing or discontinuing lies with the High Command leaders,” he stated. “I will abide by the High Command’s decision”.

“Breaking records is not an achievement,” he added.

However, in a sharp rebuttal to speculations that segments of society wanted other candidates as the Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah stated that it was not only the people of Mysuru district who wanted him to continue, but it was the will of the whole State.

Siddaramaiah also inaugurated the newly constructed Dandina Maramma temple at Pillahalli in the Varuna assembly segment.