NEW DELHI: Karnataka Congress MP Iqbal Hussain on Friday claimed that Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar will become the chief minister after the ongoing winter session of the state Parliament, further fueling speculation over a possible leadership change within the ruling party.Speaking to reporters, the Ramanagara MLA confirmed that he attended an evening dinner with Shivakumar and several ministers and legislators. He dismissed suggestions that the meeting was a show of strength. “MLAs from different constituencies have come to the meeting; it is a rare opportunity for all of us to meet. During the meeting, we meet,” he said.Asked if Shivakumar shared any political developments during the meeting, Hussain said, “I am announcing the good news. He will become (CM) after the meeting, he will become. What is wrong with that?” He added, “…Shivakumar will get a chance, he will become the chief minister now.”Hussain said 50 to 55 Congress legislators attended the dinner. While party leaders described it as a casual meeting, it came amid heightened speculation of a power struggle between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, especially after the government crossed half of its five-year term on November 20.Reacting to remarks that Shivakumar’s rise depends on fate, Hussain said: “Everything will happen when the God decides the fate of a person… We are all confident that Shivakumar has a chance for his efforts, struggle and organization of the party. We have conveyed the same to the high command, the high command will decide.”The MLA reiterated that the Congress remains disciplined and the final decision on the chief ministership lies with the central leadership. “Numbers are not important here. We should be committed to the decision they take. They said that everyone should abide by party discipline and their decision. That is also the party culture. We will abide by their decision,” he said.The Congress high command recently tried to contain tensions in the leadership with both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar holding breakfast meetings at each other’s residences. The gesture was seen as a signal that Siddaramaiah would continue to be prime minister for the time being, especially given the ongoing legislative session in Belagavi. The session, which began on December 8th, will last until December 19th.
Karnataka Deputy CM, Congo ministers and MPs meet over dinner: PTI sources
Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and over 30 Congress legislators, including some ministers, met for a dinner late on Thursday evening, party sources told PTI.The sources added that ministers KH Muniyappa, Mankal Vaidya, Dr.Expelled BJP MPs ST Somashekhar and Shivaram Hebbar also attended the dinner, sources said.The dinner came a day after CM Siddaramaiah along with ministers and some lawmakers close to him met at a dinner hosted by former Belagavi North MLA Feroz Sait.Although it is a casual dinner meeting between the leaders, speculation is rife as it comes amid a power struggle in the ruling party over the CM’s post.There was speculation of a change in chief minister as the Congress government reached the halfway point of its five-year term on November 20 as there was believed to be a power-sharing agreement between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar after the grand old party won the 2023 assembly elections.As the government crossed this crucial date, activities in the Congress intensified and both the CM and the deputy CM met for breakfast at each other’s residences on the instructions of the high command. This was seen as a move to break the leadership tussle between the two and signal Siddaramaiah’s interim continuation as CM, especially ahead of the Belagavi legislature.
