No differences with Siddaramaiah, Congress leader DK Shivakumar clarifies

Amid speculations over the next Chief Minister of Karnataka, DK Shivakumar has broken his silence about differences with Siddaramaiah following Congress’ landslide victory in the Assembly elections, state party president DK Shivakumar who is being seen as one of the three potential CM candidates and a possible competitor to him.

DK Shivakumar while speaking to the media said, “Some people said that I have differences with Siddaramaiah. There are no differences between us,” at Tumkur on Sunday. The clarification comes after supporters of both candidates put up posters that read “next CM” of Karnataka.

“Many times I have sacrificed for the party. I sacrificed and helped and stood with Siddaramaiah. Wasn’t I patient when I was not made a minister in the beginning? I have given cooperation to Siddaramaiah,” Shivakumar told.

Congress party, after winning the Karnataka Assembly elections faces the uphill task of selecting a candidate for the chair of Chief Minister as there are rumors of Siddaramaiah leading the race ahead of DK Shivakumar.

Siddaramaiah or DK Shivakumar, Congress to decide CM candidate in CLP meet

Karnataka Congress officials, including the party president and freshly elected MLAs of the party, will conduct a Congress Legislature Party meeting today in Bengaluru with the goal of making a decision.

Sources claim that the leaders would adopt a resolution empowering the party’s high command to choose the faces of the chief minister and the deputy chief minister. “Siddaramaiah is the first front-runner for the CM Post, so the Congress high command is in favor of making him the chief minister,” sources told. They added that in recognition of his efforts, the party’s leadership has offered him the position of Deputy CM. “Shivakumar has also been offered an important ministry,” they further stated.

After winning the elections in Karnataka, which the party referred to as a “stepping stone to the Lok Sabha polls,” sources claim that Congress wants to promote OBC Kurba Samaj member Siddaramaiah for the position of chief minister.

By 1,22,392 votes, DK Shivakumar defeated JDS candidate B Nagaraju in the Kanakapura constituency, and Siddaramaiah defeated BJP candidate V Somanna for the Varuna assembly seat.

JDS (Janata Dal-Secular) won 19 seats. Kalyana Rajya Pragathi Paksha and Sarvodaya Karnataka Paksha each won one seat, giving independents a total of two seats.