With the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government in Karnataka completing half its term on November 20, speculations about a leadership change have gathered steam, with the opposition BJP claiming that a ‘November Revolution’ is imminent.
Adding fuel to the buzz, Siddaramaiah on Monday said that he would remain chief minister for the full five-year term “only if the high command decides so”—a major shift from his earlier assertions that he would complete his term as the CM.
"In a democracy, we cannot tell those in the race not to compete. It is their right. Anyone may claim to be a chief ministerial candidate, but ultimately, the high command will decide,” he said while speaking to reporters in Mangaluru.
Mangaluru, Karnataka: On names of others in the CM race, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah says, "In a democracy, you cannot stop anyone from contesting. You can’t tell anyone not to run. In a democracy, it is their right to seek the Chief Minister’s post. Ultimately, it is the High… pic.twitter.com/gEIHq7RrB0
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Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar, meanwhile, sought to downplay the reports of a potential leadership change, saying CM Siddaramaiah’s remarks on the matter have put an end to the debate.
“Once the Chief Minister has spoken, that’s the end of it. What else is there after that? We will act as he says,” Shivakumar told reporters near Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru, after returning from Delhi.
There were reports that when the Congress high command chose Siddaramaiah as the chief minister in May 2023, amid an intense power tussle between him and Shivakumar, the two leaders had reached an understanding, as per which the latter would be made the CM after two and a half years.
Though the party leadership has never publicly acknowledged such an arrangement as being in existence, the buzz is rife about a ‘November Revolution’. Siddaramaiah’s recent remarks about a possible cabinet reshuffle also fueled the speculations.
Meanwhile, voices of disgruntlement are also emerging from the party, with Home Minister G. Parameshwara on Monday extending his support to his cabinet colleague and dalit leader K.H. Muniyappa to the post of chief minister.
“Muniyappa has been elected as MP seven times from the Congress party. It is not easy to win seven times. He is a senior leader and a former Union Minister. He is efficient. If Muniyappa is made the chief minister, I will be happy,” Parameshwara said.
On the other side, Siddaramaiah’s son and Congress MLC Yathindra Siddaramaiah stirred a political furore by naming Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi as a possible successor to his father.
BJP says change is certain
The opposition BJP has asserted that a ‘November revolution’, as the party predicted, is certain in the Congress and the change of chief minister is definite.
"Legislature party elects the CM for five years. If the CM is now saying he will continue if the high command decides, it means that there is an agreement. There is agreement for settlement, payment," Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly R. Ashoka said.
"What BJP has been saying as the opposition party is true — November revolution is certain, change is definite,” he added.
