Leader of Opposition R. Ashoka and BJP State unit president B. Y. Vijayendra.
| Photo Credit: File photo
Adding to the ongoing speculation on leadership change in Karnataka, leader of opposition in Legislative Assembly R. Ashok on October 3 claimed that the State will have a new Chief Minister by November or December.
Mr. Ashok, speaking in Belagavi, after visiting flood-hit areas, claimed, “I have definite information that there is a power sharing agreement between Mr. Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar. Mr. Shivakumar wants to become the Chief Minister in a few months, but the Chief Minister is not allowing that. That is why there is a big internal fight in the Karnataka Congress. Supporters of Mr. Shivakumar who are hinting of a leadership change are being sidelined. Mr. Siddaramaiah is not ready to give up power, while Mr. Shivakumar does not stop trying.”
The Chief Minister, speaking earlier this week in Mysuru, had asserted that he will continue in his post for the full term. Two Congress leaders, who had made statements on leadership change, were served notices by KPCC on October 2.
No staking claim
Mr. Ashok said that the BJP does not plan to stake claim to form the government if the Congress government falls due to such internal squabbles. “We will not form the government. We are ready to go to the polls,” he said. “The State Government has run out of money. Congress MLAs themselves are saying that they have not received funds for development. The government is not even trying to fill potholes in Bengaluru roads.”
“The Chief Minister has not yet spoken about the extent of damage to houses in flood-hit areas. The only thing Mr. Siddaramaiah has been saying is that he will continue as the Chief Minister. But then, his own party leaders are asking when will he step down. If Mr. Siddaramaiah is a responsible person, he should have released compensation,” Mr. Ashok said.
Visiting flood-hit areas
“The BJP delegation will visit flood-hit villages and speak to farmers about crop loss. It will visit Belagavi and Vijayapura districts,” he said. “The BJP government led by B.S. Yediyurappa had increased compensation for house collapse to ₹5 lakh from the existing ₹95,000. He also introduced the practice of releasing ₹10,000 within 24 hours of rain damage. We have released money even to those people who have suffered minimal damage. But the Congress government neglects the problems faced by people in northern Karnataka districts. They have no regard for human suffering,” Mr. Ashok said.
He claimed that Hassan had suffered widespread damage due to a landslide. “Instead of helping the victims, Mr. Siddaramaiah is going around blaming the Union Government. The Union government can release compensation only after the State Government submits a comprehensive report, but the State is yet to do that,” he said.
Published – October 03, 2025 02:24 pm IST
