Siddaramaiah says he will be Karnataka CM for 5 years

CHIKKABALLAPURA (KARNATAKA), Jul 2: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday asserted that he will be in office for a full five-year term.
“Yes, I will be. Why do you have the doubt?” the veteran leader said in response to a question by reporters whether he will be the CM for five years.
There has been speculation 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 Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar.
However, 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.
On claims by the BJP and JD(S) leaders that the CM will be replaced, he shot back, “Are they our high command?”
“R Ashoka (Leader of Opposition in the Assembly) is a BJP man. B Y Vijayendra (state BJP President) is a BJP man. Chalavadi Narayanaswamy (Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council) is a BJP man. Will you write if they say such things? Should you verify or not?” he asked.
Earlier, speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Shivakumar asserted that there is no disgruntlement within the ruling Congress and when Siddaramaiah is there as the CM, there is no need for any discord on the leadership issue.
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. (Agencies)