Leadership change: High command's decision final, hints CM, Sidda's words 'veda vakya,' says DKS
Bengaluru, Nov 24 (PTI): With the DK Shivakumar camp pushing hard for his elevation as Chief Minister of Karnataka in light of a rumoured power sharing agreement with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, the CM on Monday said he will continue in the post if the party high commands decides so, remarks his deputy endorsed as "vedavakya (sacrosanct) for us."
With more legislators backing the deputy CM apparently knocking the doors of Congress leaders in Delhi with a plea to implement the purported agreement, Siddaramaiah reiterated Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's statement that the party will take a call on leadership change, an issue that has been hotly debated in Karnataka's power corridors over the past many days.
Six MLAs backing Shivakumar for the top post reached Delhi on Sunday, while more are expected to join them in their bid to lobby for their leader's elevation, even as a set of legislators had earlier flown to Delhi over the same issue.
ALSO READ: If Cong high command decides, I will continue as CM: Siddaramaiah
On Monday, Siddaramaiah said the high command takes the ultimate call on the leadership change, and that it should be accepted by himself as well as his deputy.
"We will abide by the high command decision. If they decide I should continue (as CM), I will continue. Ultimately, whatever the high command decides, I should accept it. Shivakumar should also accept it," Siddaramaiah told reporters here.
Asked if Shivakumar, also the state Congress chief, would become the CM, he said, "When I have said the high command will decide, you are asking me the same thing again."
Responding, Shivakumar who shared the dais with the CM at an official event, said the remarks of the veteran leader are "veda vakya" for us.
"Once he (Siddaramaiah) has said, it is veda vakya for us," Shivakumar said.
ALSO READ: More Karnataka Cong legislators backing Shivakumar travel to Delhi
Expressing his agreement to the CM's statement on the issue, he called Siddaramaiah an "asset" for the Congress party, and that everyone is working together in the government under his guidance.
Asked about some more Congress MLAs going to Delhi, he said they have a desire to become ministers, amid talks of cabinet reshuffle and asked "what's wrong" with that."
"As the CM said, we can't stop anyone from going to Delhi where our leaders are, where our party office, which is like a temple, is. To build their future, they will go. What's wrong? If they make any statements against the party, form groups, organise dinners, and go against the party, it will violate party discipline. I don't know what they (legislators) have said. As there were talks about cabinet reshuffle they have gone, hoping to get a chance," he said
The power tussle within the ruling party has intensified, amid speculations of CM change in the state, after the Congress government reached the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20.
The speculation is fueled by reports of the so-called power-sharing agreement reached in 2023, suggesting a rotational CM tenure between the two influential leaders.
Earlier in the day, both leaders shared a stage at an event here, where Siddaramaiah inaugurated a high-tech silk cocoon market, launched various development works worth around Rs 2,000 crore, and distributed social security scheme benefits to selected beneficiaries.
Meanwhile, senior Minister K J George, considered close to Siddaramaiah, clarified on a recent late night meeting with Shivakumar, stating that they only discussed government matters and the upcoming Bengaluru corporation election.
He denied discussing leadership change or being tasked by the party with mediation.
Speaking to reporters in Yadgir, he said, "Shivakumar is the Deputy CM, a party colleague and we keep meeting, what is wrong in that? I have discussed government matters with Shivakumar, also the upcoming Bengaluru corporation election. AICC has not given me any responsibility to discuss (on leadership issues)."
Replying to a question, George asserted that "there is no rebellion in the party for it to be pacified. We are all a Congress family."
Meanwhile, former KPCC chief and Home Minister G Parameshwara has also thrown his hat in the ring, amid calls for a Dalit CM to take over the reins in the event of a leadership change.
Besides the six pro-Shivakumar MLAs who are in Delhi now, few more legislators are likely to travel soon to pitch for the KPCC chief as CM, party sources said.
The MLAs who are camping in Delhi are -- H C Balakrishna, K M Uday, Nayana Motamma, Iqbal Hussain, Sharath Bachegowd and Shivaganga Basavaraj, sources added.
Siddaramaiah had earlier met AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge in Bengaluru.
Kharge has also stated that the Congress high command will decide on the matter.
Last week, about 10 MLAs supporting Shivakumar travelled to New Delhi and met Kharge, as the Congress government completed 2.5 years in office on November 20.
Shivakumar, however, had then said he was not aware of legislators travelling to Delhi to meet Kharge.
Subsequently, Siddaramaiah on Saturday held more than an hour long meeting with Kharge at his residence here.
While Siddaramaiah is pushing for a reshuffle of his Cabinet, Shivakumar wants the party to first decide on leadership change, Congress sources have said.
According to several party insiders, the high command's nod for a cabinet reshuffle would mean Siddaramaiah will complete the full five-year term, thus denying Shivakumar the elevation.
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Prasidh, Kuldeep limit South Africa to 270 after De Kock's hundred
Visakhapatnam (PTI): India fought back gallantly through Prasidh Krishna and Kuldeep Yadav after Quinton de Kock struck his 23rd hundred, keeping South Africa to a manageable 270 in the third and series-deciding final ODI, here Saturday.
India won the toss after judging the spin of the coin incorrectly 20 times in a row. They had little hesitation in inserting the Proteas into bat, a clear indication of dew factor dominating the thought.
After Arshdeep Singh sent back Ryan Rickelton early, De Kock (106, 89b, 8x4, 6x4) struck his seventh century against India and put on 113 runs off 124 balls with skipper Temba Bavuma (48, 67b) as the visitors moved to a healthy position.
De Kock was severe on Prasidh (4/66), who erred on length continuously in his first spell (2-0-27-0). The left-hander biffed the pacer for 6, 6, 4 in his second over to milk 18 runs.
The 32-year-old quickly pounced on anything that was short, and pacers Prasidh and Harshit offered him plenty of feed on his pet areas.
Bavuma was more sedate, and made runs through those typical dabs and jabs, occasionally unfurling a drive of elan.
De Kock moved to fifty in 42 balls, and never let the tempo down reaching his hundred in 79 balls.
India found temporary relief when Ravindra Jadeja induced a false slash from Bavuma to get caught by Virat Kohli at point.
The tourists got another move on through a 54-run partnership between De Kock and Matthew Breetzkle for the third wicket, and at 168 for two in 28 overs they were in a good position to press on.
But Breetzke's punishment of part-time spinner Tilak Varma forced a rethink in the Indian camp, as skipper KL Rahul brought back Prasidh for a second spell.
What a masterstroke it turned out to be! The Karnataka man broke the back of South Africa’s top and middle order in an exceptional second spell (4-0-11-3).
Breetzke was the first man to go, trapped plumb in front with a straight one and four balls later Aiden Markram uppishly chipped a fuller delivery to Kohli at short covers.
Prasidh soon castled De Kock, whose ugly cross-batted swipe failed to connect a full length delivery from the pacer.
All of a sudden, SA found themselves at a shaky 199 for five, losing three wickets in the space of three overs.
Once Prasidh was done away with the top and middle-order, left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep (4/41) took over and mopped up the tail as SA fell short of even a par total on this track.
