Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has asserted that he will continue in the post, rubbishing the speculations of a change of the guard likely in the state.
Siddaramaiah told India Today that there was no truth in the reports that the party’s central leadership had asked him to step down to usher Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar in to the post.
Dismissing rumours of his likely exit midway, Siddaramaiah said ‘I will be Chief Minister for five years’, adding ‘I’ve already made it very clear. I made this statement on July 2 also. Mr DK Shivakumar was also there on that day’.
Acknowledging frankly DK Shivakumar’s aspiration for the post, Siddaramaiah ‘He is also an aspirant. There is nothing wrong with that. DK Shivakumar has himself said this, that ‘kursi abhi khali nahi hai’.’
Denying the reports of a leadership rotation scheme meant to share power between two leaders midway, Siddaramaiah said ‘Two and a half years was never decided. It is not correct’.
‘What the high command told us is that whatever decision they take, we have to follow it. Mallikarjun Kharge has already said that ours is a high command party. Whatever they say, we have to follow. I will, and DK Shivakumar also will, the chief minister said.
Siddaramaiah , denying the reports that Congress leader Randeep Surjewala had signaled at leadership change in the state, said ‘As far as leadership is concerned, Surjewala has not asked any question’.
However Siddaramaiah openly said that ‘There are always some MLAs supporting DK Shivakumar, but not many.’