Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar described the CM change issue as a “secret deal” among a few party leaders, stating he wouldn’t discuss it publicly to avoid embarrassing the organization. He emphasized the importance of party unity and conscience. Meanwhile, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also stressed that leadership changes are not for public discussion. Siddaramaiah, Mallikarjun Kharge and DK Shivakumar NEW DELHI: Congress leader and Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar on Tuesday remarked that he does not want to discuss the CM change issue “publicly,” describing it as a “secret deal” involving “four and five people” in the party. Shivakumar, who also heads the Karnataka Congress, explained that he does not want to cause any “embarrassment” to the grand old party. “I don’t know. I have not asked to be made CM. It is a secret deal between five and six of us. I don’t want to speak publicly on this. I believe in my conscience. We should work with our conscience. I don’t want to embarrass the party or weaken it. If the party is there, we are there. If ‘karyakartas’ are there, we are there,” he told reporters, according to PTI. He was visiting his home constituency, Kanakapura. “The chief minister (Siddaramaiah) has spoken. He is a senior leader, an asset for the party. He has completed 7.5 years as CM,” Shivakumar added, referring to Siddaramaiah’s earlier five-year term from 2013–2018. Asked about legislators backing him travelling to Delhi to meet the Congress high command with a demand to make him CM, Shivakumar responded that he was “unaware” of it, suggesting they might be making efforts to secure ministerial positions. “I have not telephoned or called any of them (legislators) or spoken to them. I’m not asking them why they went. I don’t need it,” he remarked. A batch of six Congress legislators supporting him had travelled to Delhi on November 23 to meet senior leaders, according to party sources, who added that a few more MLAs are likely to follow soon to push Shivakumar’s case. Last week, around ten legislators backing him had met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge with the same demand.The power tussle within the ruling party has intensified amid speculation over a leadership change, after the state government reached the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20, following talk of a “power-sharing” agreement between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar in 2023.Mallikarjun Kharge on Karnataka power tussle Meanwhile, Kharge, too, maintained that the issue of leadership change in Karnataka is not something to be taken up in public. The veteran leader, in Delhi to attend Constitution Day celebrations on Wednesday, told reporters: “This is not a subject to be discussed here and that too in public. I have specially come to attend an event related to Constitution Day. After the event, I have review meetings, after which I will proceed further.” Siddaramaiah has repeatedly maintained that he will remain chief minister for the full five-year term and will continue to present future state budgets.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosMamata Banerjee Warns BJP With Nation-Shaking Threat As SIR Battle Erupts In Bengal Ahead Of PollsAssam CM Calls Zubeen Garg’S Death ‘Plain Murder’, Drops Explosive RevelationDrone Show Pays Homage To Guru Tegh Bahadur In 350th Martyrdom Anniversary Event At Anandpur SahibRed Fort Attack May Derail Benjamin Netanyahu’s India Visit As Israeli Media Flags Safety ConcernsFinland President Warns Global Order Is ‘Unfair’, Urges West To Accept East And India’s Growing Role’Necessary Response At Proper Time’: Taliban Vows Action After 10 Killed In Pak StrikesWhy Delhi Police Added Section 197 To India Gate Protest Case Following Pepper Spray AttackDecoding Ayodhya’s Dharma Dhwaj And The Deep Meaning Behind Om, Sun And The Sacred Kovidara TreePM Modi Declares India’s 500-Year Resolve Fulfilled With Dharma Flag Ceremony At Ayodhya Ram TempleDiplomatic Row Explodes After China Rejects Arunachal Woman’s Passport During Shanghai Transit Halt123PhotostoriesWinter-Friendly Fruits: 8 plants that thrives in cold-weather gardensFrom ‘Dhurandhar’ to ‘Kill Dil’: Moments when Ranveer Singh ruled action on screenLakes, Islands, Gardens: A Visual Journey Through Kolkata’s 480-Acre Eco Tourism Park7 Indian animals that are known for their gentle and calm natureNo more weak legs: 7 exercises for stronger calvesUdaipur Turns Into Celebrity Capital as JLo, Bollywood A-listers Attend Mantena WeddingHow You Show Your Anger According To Your Birth DateSecond Steel Bridge Erected in Ahmedabad for Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train ProjectFrom being independent to living life on her own terms: Neena Gupta’s 5 bold statements on motherhoodPunjabi aa gaye oye! 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NEW DELHI: Congress leader and Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar on Tuesday remarked that he does not want to discuss the CM change issue “publicly,” describing it as a “secret deal” involving “four and five people” in the party. Shivakumar, who also heads the Karnataka Congress, explained that he does not want to cause any “embarrassment” to the grand old party. “I don’t know. I have not asked to be made CM. It is a secret deal between five and six of us. I don’t want to speak publicly on this. I believe in my conscience. We should work with our conscience. I don’t want to embarrass the party or weaken it. If the party is there, we are there. If ‘karyakartas’ are there, we are there,” he told reporters, according to PTI. He was visiting his home constituency, Kanakapura. “The chief minister (Siddaramaiah) has spoken. He is a senior leader, an asset for the party. He has completed 7.5 years as CM,” Shivakumar added, referring to Siddaramaiah’s earlier five-year term from 2013–2018. Asked about legislators backing him travelling to Delhi to meet the Congress high command with a demand to make him CM, Shivakumar responded that he was “unaware” of it, suggesting they might be making efforts to secure ministerial positions. “I have not telephoned or called any of them (legislators) or spoken to them. I’m not asking them why they went. I don’t need it,” he remarked. A batch of six Congress legislators supporting him had travelled to Delhi on November 23 to meet senior leaders, according to party sources, who added that a few more MLAs are likely to follow soon to push Shivakumar’s case. Last week, around ten legislators backing him had met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge with the same demand.The power tussle within the ruling party has intensified amid speculation over a leadership change, after the state government reached the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20, following talk of a “power-sharing” agreement between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar in 2023.Mallikarjun Kharge on Karnataka power tussle Meanwhile, Kharge, too, maintained that the issue of leadership change in Karnataka is not something to be taken up in public. The veteran leader, in Delhi to attend Constitution Day celebrations on Wednesday, told reporters: “This is not a subject to be discussed here and that too in public. I have specially come to attend an event related to Constitution Day. After the event, I have review meetings, after which I will proceed further.” Siddaramaiah has repeatedly maintained that he will remain chief minister for the full five-year term and will continue to present future state budgets.
