Congress high command will decide on who will be the CM: D K Shivakumar
Hubballi(PTI): Karnataka Congress President D K Shivakumar on Monday said the party high command will decide as to who the chief minister will be in the event of the party coming to power in the Assembly elections, likely by April-May.
Conveying good wishes to people of the state and all political parties for the New Year, he however wished that the Congress comes to power.
"I wish good for media, people of the state for the New Year, I also wish good for all parties, but we (Congress) should get the power," Shivakumar said.
Speaking to reporters here, in response to a question, he said, "It is not that I should become the chief minister, it will be decided by the high command. Mallikarjun Kharge (AICC President), Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi (former AICC Presidents) will decide. What ever they decide is like prasada."
With Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah too along with Shivakumar nursing chief ministerial ambitions in the event of the party coming to power in the state, there seems to be a game of political one-upmanship, between the two leaders as the election nears.
The Congress appears to be a divided house, with supporters of both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar often openly projecting their leaders as the next chief minister.
Calling the BJP "university of lies" on the Mahadayi river water issue, Shivakumar said, "for three-and-a half years they (BJP) couldn't do any thing, despite their own government in Maharashtra...they have taken most of our MLAs through 'Operation Lotus' in Goa and are in power there too, as they did here in Karnataka."
"Without doing anything for three years, as we are preparing to raise a voice on the issue, instead of giving necessary clearances they have now issued a draft note...They (centre) have put a rider pointing to the Supreme Court's final order on the issue, instead of getting the cases filed in the SC withdrawn," he said, adding despite having 25 BJP MPs from the state, they did not meet the PM on the issue even once in order to get the work started.
"Who is going to stop you (Karnataka government) from taking up work within your state, with your money," he questioned the ruling BJP.
Condemning the "delay" by the BJP government in getting the necessary approvals for the Mahadayi project, the Congress today is holding a massive rally in Hubballi to highlight the issue.
Recently, the Union government had approved Karnataka's detailed project report (DPR) on the Kalasa-Banduri (Mahadayi) project, which was opposed by Goa.
Karnataka wants to use the Mahadayi river water from its tributaries Kalasa and Banduri to supply water to drought-hit districts of north Karnataka.
The proposed project will use 3.9 tmc water - 2.18 tmc from Banduri and 1.72 tmc from Kalasa river canals - for drinking water needs.
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Vijay unable to prove majority, not invited for CM oath ceremony: Sources
Chennai: Actor-politician Vijay has reportedly not been invited to take oath as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu after failing to demonstrate support from the required number of MLAs, sources in Raj Bhavan said.
According to media reports that quoted sources in the office of R.N. Ravi Arlekar, Vijay could not prove the backing of 118 legislators, the majority mark in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly.
Despite last-minute efforts to secure support from the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazagam (AMMK), and an IUML legislator, Vijay reportedly managed support from only 116 MLAs, falling short by two members.
Sources said Vijay failed to submit letters of support from the VCK and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML).
Later, the IUML issued a statement clarifying that it was not part of the TVK-led alliance.
Meanwhile, AMMK leader T.T.V. Dhinakaran is also said to have informed the Governor that his party would support the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) instead.
Earlier in the evening, Vijay had met Governor Arlekar and staked claim to form the government, stating that he enjoyed the support of 118 MLAs.
