Shivakumar says no talks on leadership change in Karnataka asks party leaders not to speak to media

    Bengaluru, Jul 1 (PTI) Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Tuesday said there is no discussion on leadership change and stressed on strengthening the hands of CM Siddaramaiah and the party's government in the state.
    Shivakumar, who is also the state Congress President, asked party leaders and legislators not to speak to the press on the leadership change issue.
    He has even issued a show cause notice to Ramanagara MLA H A Iqbal Hussain, who has been making statements that Shivakumar should become the CM.
    Stating that Hussain's public statements before the media about the chief minister change has caused confusion and embarrassment to the party, the notice to him said, "It also amounts to violation of party discipline. Taking your undisciplined statements seriously, a show cause notice has been issued and you are instructed to explain your statements within a week after receiving this notice."
    Speculation over leadership change has resurfaced with some party MLAs, including Hussain and H C Balakrishna (Magadi) making claims about Shivakumar becoming the CM later this year. Both of them are considered close to Shivakumar.
    "Statements are being made. We want discipline in the party. Discipline is important. No issue of leadership change. There is no discussion or anything on this. No one is in a hurry, 2028 is important for us," Shivakumar told reporters here.
    Hussain has claimed that Shivakumar may get an opportunity to become CM in two to three months.
    Asserting that no leader or MLA from the party should speak to the media on such matters, Shivakumar said, "..no one should go before the press. I'm saying it, no press. I'm saying it, whether it is Iqbal Hussain or B R Patil or Balakrishna or anyone else, there is no need."
    "Siddaramaiah is the chief minister, strengthening his hands and the hands of the government is the only thing," he added.
    There have been speculations within political circles, especially within the ruling Congress, for some time now about the chief minister change later this year, citing power-sharing agreement involving Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar. But such talks had taken a backseat for some time, after strong instructions from the party high command.
    There was stiff competition between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar for the chief minister's post after the declaration of Assembly election results in May 2023, and the Congress had managed to convince the latter and made him the Deputy CM.
    There were some reports at the time that a compromise had been reached based on a "rotational chief minister formula," according to which Shivakumar will become CM after two-and-half years, but they have not been officially confirmed by the party.
    Earlier, Hussain, speaking to reporters in Ramanagara, claimed that over 100 MLAs are expecting a change in leadership.
    "Not only me, a number of legislators. Over a hundred legislators are expecting a change. A good administration and that an opportunity should be given to him (Shivakumar) as he has worked hard and fought for organising the party. What was the situation when he was made the KPCC president? What is the situation now? How it has grown with strength. Who is responsible for it? Everyone knows. So everyone will stand with him," he said.
    Despite the KPCC chief's warning, later in the day, after meeting AICC General Secretary in-charge of Karnataka, Randeep Singh Surjewala, Hussain said he stands by his earlier statement that Shivakumar be made the CM. "We want a change for Congress to come to power once again and for those in the party to grow further," he said.
    He further said that he had placed the demand for change before Surjewala, and was hopeful that the high command would take a favourable decision.
    On his part, Balakrishna said, he has demanded that Shivakumar should be given an opportunity, but has not sought for CM Siddaramaiah to be changed tomorrow itself or immediately. The time frame will be decided by the high command.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)