Siddaramaiah vs DK Shivakumar: Congress may announce the title of the Karnataka CM at present
New Delhi:
Congress chief DK Shivakumar made it clear at present that he wouldn’t again down in a tense rivalry with Siddaramaiah over the Karnataka chief minister’s publish after the social gathering’s large win within the state on Saturday. However he mentioned he wouldn’t resort to “backstabbing or blackmail”, whatever the social gathering’s resolution.
Siddaramaiah spent a lot of yesterday in Delhi, the place he met with the Congress management amid reviews that he was nearer to the end line than his youthful colleague. “Let’s wait and see. I do not know,” he informed reporters cautiously, requested when there can be an announcement.
Social gathering president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leaders Rahul Gandhi and KC Venugopal are presently holding talks on the Karnataka chief minister problem. Mr Kharge will then maintain talks with each Mr Shivakumar and Mr Siddaramaiah.
The social gathering’s management was yesterday briefed by a crew of observers on the views of the newly elected Karnataka MLAs. The Congress held a secret vote on Sunday, the outcomes of which have reportedly been offered to the social gathering president, who will take the ultimate resolution.
The social gathering may announce the title of the subsequent Karnataka Chief Minister within the coming 24 hours, sources mentioned. The largest problem is to convey Mr Shivakumar on board.
Mr Shivakumar arrived in Delhi this afternoon after canceling his go to final night time on the final minute citing a abdomen an infection. “The social gathering is my god…We have now constructed this social gathering, I’m part of it and I’m not alone on this,” he mentioned earlier than flying out of Bengaluru.
“We have now constructed this social gathering (Congress), now we have constructed this home. I’m part of it…A mom will give all the things to her little one,” he added, indicating that he anticipated the social gathering to reward him for his function in Congress’s Karnataka victory.
However he repeated that he wouldn’t insurgent. “If the social gathering desires, they may give me the duty… Ours is a united home, our quantity is 135. I do not need to divide anybody right here. Whether or not they like me or not, I’m a accountable man. I can’t backstab and I can’t blackmail,” Mr Shivakumar asserted.
In polls held final week, the Congress received a transparent majority in Karnataka, ending with 135 seats within the 224-member meeting. Its celebrations have been, nonetheless, tempered with nervousness over the Siddaramaiah versus Shivakumar contest for the highest job, which drags on for the third day with out a resolution.
Siddaramaiah, 75, is a former Chief Minister and Mr Shivakumar, 61, is the social gathering’s Karnataka chief. Each declare to have a majority of MLAs backing their declare to the chief minister’s publish.
The Congress has a troublesome resolution to make, with a watch on the long-term affect, particularly on subsequent 12 months’s nationwide elections.
In an unique interview with NDTV final night, Mr Shivakumar mentioned he anticipated his management to acknowledge who was behind the emphatic win in Karnataka.
“Sonia Gandhi informed me, ‘I’ve confidence in you that you’ll ship Karnataka’. I’m sitting right here, doing my common duty. You must have the essential courtesy, a little bit of gratitude. They need to have the courtesy to acknowledge who’s behind the win,” the 61-year-old mentioned.
“I will not blackmail, that is not me. Do not understand something. I’ve my very own presence of thoughts. I’m not a toddler. I will not fall in a entice,” Mr Shivakumar added.
Responding to Mr Siddaramaiah’s declare that he has the assist of the MLAs, he mentioned, “I want him all the perfect.”
Within the run-up to the election, the Congress was capable of challenge a united entrance, though the supporters of Mr Shivakumar and Mr Siddaramaiah typically publicly clashed.
Whereas Siddaramaiah is seen to be a frontrunner with mass attraction and accomplished a full time period in 2013-18, Mr Shivakumar is understood for his sturdy organisational capabilities, and is taken into account resourceful and Congress’ troubleshooter throughout robust instances.
Sources near Mr Shivakumar, nonetheless, insist that Siddaramaiah has “by no means been a celebration man and has by no means received any elections for the social gathering”.
