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Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Friday dismissed speculation about a change in the Chief Minister post, saying that leaders meeting party high command is normal and no one can stop them from doing so.
Speaking to the reporters in Bengaluru, DK Shivakumar said, "...All are eligible to go and meet their leaders. You can't stop them, you can't tell them no, because so many are going with ministers. Some of them are going with the CM. Who will stop them? No one will stop them..." He made the remarks amid reports that several MLAs were heading to Delhi to meet Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. Meanwhile, a day earlier, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah downplayed the speculations of leadership change in the state, terming it as an "unnecessary debate" and attributing these speculations to recent discussions about a cabinet reshuffle. The Chief Minister further said that senior party leadership would further take decisions on the cabinet reshuffle, as out of the total 34 ministerial posts, two posts are vacant, which would be filled during the cabinet reshuffle. When asked if he will continue as the CM for 5 years, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said, "This is an unnecessary debate. Only after it was said that the cabinet can be reshuffled after two and a half years, the issue of changing the Chief Minister has come to the fore. The party leaders need to take a decision on the cabinet reshuffle. There are a total of 34 ministerial posts, out of which two posts are vacant. These vacant ministerial positions will be filled during the cabinet reshuffle." As Chief Minister Siddaramaiah visited Chamarajanagar, he said that his power is "secure" and sincere efforts are being made to fulfill the promises made to the people. There is a long-standing myth in state politics that any serving Chief Minister of the state who visits the town of Chamarajanagar will inevitably lose their post within a short period. (ANI)
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