Will stay as CM for 5 years: Siddaramaiah dismisses reports of change after 2.5 years

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday (November 2) put an end to speculation that he will give up his post after two and half years to make way for Congress president DK Shivakumar.

Siddaramaiah cleared the air on this issue, which has often been speculated upon by a section in the ruling Congress party, over a change in leadership after two-and-half years of this government's tenure.

Replying to questions from reporters about confusing statements from Congress party members, the CM asked, "Who has made the confusing statement? If someone useless speaks, why do you give importance to it." 

Giving clarity

Asked to give clarity on whether he would head the government for a full five years, he said, "For five years, our government will be there...I'm the chief minister, I will continue."

On the speculation about having three more deputy chief ministers, he said, "Who said? All this is decided by the high command. Congress is not a regional party, it's a national party. Nothing can be decided without discussing with the high command. Neither me as the chief minister or MLAs can change the government. We have the high command; they will decide."

Ever since this government came to power, there have been claims and counter claims within the party about the chief minister being changed. Reports said Siddaramaiah may have to make way for deputy CM and state Congress president D K Shivakumar after two-and-half years of this dispensation.

Siddaramaiah was sworn in as CM on May 20 this year after the Congress posted a landslide victory ousting the BJP from power.

Siddaramaiah vs Shivakumar

There was stiff competition between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar for the chief minister's post after the assembly election results came out in May this year. The Congress party managed to convince the latter to accept the post of deputy CM.

There were some reports at the time that a compromise had been reached, according to which Shivakumar would become CM after two-and-half years, but this was not officially confirmed by the party.

BJP cannot topple Congress

Claiming that BJP was attempting an 'Operation Kamala/Lotus' but won't be successful, Siddaramaiah said his party would run a stable government for a full five years.

"People of the state have given us victory by giving us 136 seats in the elections held in May. We will run a stable government for five years. BJP is in disillusionment. They can't stay without power. As they have been once successful with 'Operation Kamala', they are trying to do it once again, but they will not succeed," he said.

'Operation Kamala' (Operation Lotus), a term coined by Opposition parties, refers to an alleged attempt of the BJP to engineer defection of opposition legislators to install its own government and to ensure its stability.

Responding to a question on BJP MLA and former minister Ramesh Jarkiholi predicting the collapse of the Congress government in the state, Siddaramaiah said, "He doesn't have any other work. After losing, they (BJP) don't have any work, so they are speaking whatever they want." 

(With agency inputs)