Bengaluru, Dec 8 – In a statement on Monday, former minister and senior Congress legislator K.N. Rajanna, who is close to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, indicated that any leadership changes in Karnataka would be decided by the party’s central committee. He added that Deputy Chief Minister and State Congress President D.K. Shivakumar is unlikely to be promoted to Chief Minister.
“Shivakumar becoming the Chief Minister is unlikely. I have already said that if he becomes Chief Minister, I won’t be part of the cabinet. That question will arise only if he becomes CM. I’m still in Congress. The party hasn’t done anything to me, but some people have conspired against me,” he said.
Rajanna has repeatedly challenged Shivakumar’s position, a stance that eventually led to his removal from the cabinet after he publicly disagreed with Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi’s comments on alleged voter fraud.
He reiterated that he remains an active member of politics and denied any speculation that he might join another party. His remarks arrived after Siddaramaiah’s son, Yathindra, suggested that his father would see out the full term.
“Yathindra Siddaramaiah’s statement is his personal view. Siddaramaiah can’t intimidate the high command, and the high command won’t abandon him,” Rajanna asserted.
When asked about the selection of Home Minister G. Parameshwara as a potential Chief Minister, Rajanna said that the role should not be awarded solely because the person is a Dalit. He acknowledged Parameshwara’s role in the party’s 2013 victory and his significant contribution to the state’s governance.
In response to Congress MLA H.C. Balakrishna’s remark that Rajanna should clarify the party he belongs to, Rajanna reminded the audience that he has served in the Congress for 15 years. “Balakrishna can make whatever silly statements he wants,” he replied, noting that Balakrishna has been a staunch supporter of Shivakumar.
Meanwhile, Siddaramaiah, after his son Yathindra’s comment, confirmed that he would respect whatever decision the central committee ultimately makes.
Earlier, during a discussion about the internal leadership rivalry, Yathindra Siddaramaiah dismissed predictions of a change in the Chief Minister’s office as mere “dreaming.”
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