Chief Minister Siddaramaiah speaking to reporters at Mangaluru International Airport on Monday.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Amid speculation over the change of leadership and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s visit to Delhi, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Mangaluru on Monday reiterated that the Congress high command will take a call on whether or not to continue him as the Chief Minister.
Referring to various Ministers making statements over the change of the Chief Minister, Mr. Siddaramaiah said that that in a democracy, everyone has the right to contest for the post of Chief Minister. “The contest can not be avoided. But the high command will take the final decision.”
When his reaction was sought to Mr. Siddaramaiah’s statement on continuing as the Chief Minister, Mr. Shivakumar remarked: “What is there to add when the Chief Minister himself has said it. We will listen to whatever he says.”
The Chief Minister’s statement came on a day when Mr. Shivakumar was in Delhi to meet the Congress Central leaders. Mr. Shivakumar, on his return to Bengaluru- refused to elaborate on the Delhi visit, but acknowledged that he met Ambika Soni, a confidante of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, to offer his condolences following the death of Ms. Soni’s husband recently.
Sources close to him indicated that he riled at the supporters of the Chief Minister, including his son Yathindra Siddaramaiah, going public about the leadership, while he was in Delhi to brief the leaders.
A purported agreement on rotation of power after two-and-a-half years is being justified for the leadership change by the Deputy Chief Minister’s camp while the Chief Minister and his supporters have rubbished existence of such an agreement.
Meanwhile, Home Minister G. Parameshwara said that there has been no information from the high command either on Cabinet reshuffle or a change of leadership. He felt that discussion on the Cabinet reshuffle or the leadership in public narrative has caused confusion and affected administration in the State. “It is not right to remain in this state of confusion and the administration has to be precise to prevent any conversation on floods or potholes,” he said.
On the purported celebrations being hosted by the Chief Minister on November 1, Dr. Parameshwara said that nothing much needed to be read into it.
“Reading a political narrative to a celebration on Rajyotsava is not necessary.
On Food and Civil Supplies Minister K.H. Muniyappa’s supporters raising slogans in Shivamogga in favour of the veteran leader to be made the Chief Minister, he said: “Mr. Muniyappa has been MP seven times. He is a senior leader, and has merit and eligibility. I will be happy if he becomes the Chief Minister.”
On having a Dalit Chief Minister, Dr. Parameshwara said that if the need arises, the high command will decide after the Bihar elections.
Published – October 28, 2025 12:05 am IST
