New Delhi: Amid ongoing infighting within the Karnataka Congress over power-sharing, former Congress MP DK Suresh reiterated his wish for his brother Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, to become chief minister. Speaking to the media in Bengaluru on Saturday, Suresh said, “I have not hidden my desire, but the time for that must come.”
Acknowledging Siddaramaiah’s leadership, he added, “One cannot just remove him. The party will decide.” When asked if he believed Shivakumar would become CM, he responded, “Shivakumar is a person of faith. Everyone must trust one another in life.”
Suresh downplays speculation
On whether Shivakumar’s Deputy CM post was “sufficient,” Suresh said, “That is for the party to decide. Right now, Siddaramaiah is CM, and discussing this serves no purpose.” Addressing reports that Shivakumar asserted his rights before the high command, he dismissed speculation, stating that his brother regularly visits Delhi for party matters.
Regarding Shivakumar’s meetings with PM Modi and Union Minister Amit Shah, he said that these were not secret and were done with the party’s knowledge. He also defended his brother’s religious visits, emphasizing that their family has always been devoted to Lord Shiva. Suresh further said all states deserve equal rights and a fair share of tax revenue, adding, “The country is not limited to just Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh.”
Gowda hints at shift
Meanwhile, state BJP MLA Suresh Gowda said that Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar’s remarks on his Hindu identity indicate a significant political shift. “In Congress history, no leader has made such a statement. There is a deeper meaning behind it and a strong wind of change is blowing,” Gowda said, implying that Shivakumar’s words signal a potential realignment.
Welcoming Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s decision to skip the Kumbh Mela, he said, “DK Shivakumar has finally realised something.” He also said that while the decision to join BJP rests with Shivakumar, the party high command would determine whether to accept him. “If the party invites him, I will welcome him wholeheartedly,” he added.
Gowda downplayed Shivakumar sharing the stage with Union Minister Amit Shah, saying, “There are political calculations behind such moves. The government is on borrowed time.” He further said that Siddaramaiah would be the last Congress Chief Minister in Karnataka, hinting at an impending collapse of the state government.
