Amid speculations about a Cabinet reshuffle in Karnataka, MLA H A Iqbal Hussain set tongues wagging with his controversial statement on guard change on Tuesday. Hussain, who arrived from Delhi after meetings with the Congress High Command, said he was “200 per cent sure” that Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar will soon helm the government.
Responding to a question from the media regarding the high command's visit to New Delhi, he said, "All good news will come. D.K. Shivakumar will become the Chief Minister. This is a private matter between four or five leaders, and we will all abide by the decision of the high command," he was quoted by local media reports.
Hussain’s statement comes as senior Congress leader and MLC B K Hariprasad met Rahul Gandhi on Monday afternoon. Hariprasad, who belongs to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s faction, said he informed Rahul Gandhi about the developments within the party. The MLAs of the DK Shivakumar faction were also in Bengaluru after holding a Delhi parade demanding that their leader be made the CM.
Reports hint that the MLAs who support Shivakumar believes that if they heed to the advice to proceed peacefully, the High Command may not take a favourable view with regard to making Shivakumar the chief. Therefore, the DCM's inner circle of MLAs are going to Delhi in groups to intensifying the pressure tactics. After the second group reached Delhi late on Sunday night, a group of about 15 people is ready to leave for Delhi on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, there are also reports that Shivakumar held a closed-door meeting with Satish Jharkiholi, who was touted as Siddaramaiah’s successor, to iron out differences.
CM Prediction
An interesting prediction made by Laltha Bharathi Vijayendra Theertha Guru of Mysore has garnered attention. Besides performing special pujas for D K Shivakumar, he has predicted that, according to the planetary movements, D K Shivakumar should become the CM in the next two days.