Siddaramaiah & I have discussed, there is time for everything: Shivakumar amid leadership row
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Monday indicated that the leadership row involving himself and CM Siddaramaiah has been discussed by the two leaders in the presence of Congress high command, they have arrived at a decision and that there was time for everything
Time will answer everything, he said.
Shivakumar, who is also the state Congress President, asserted that he has the support of 140 ruling legislators, including CM Siddaramaiah.
His remarks came on his return from New Delhi, where he had been camping for the last couple of days.
"I go (to Delhi) for politics and government work. There are reports in the newspapers and TV that I did not get an appointment with Rahul Gandhi and others. Can I keep showing you as to whom I met. One day you (media) show pictures of me sitting together and having discussion (with Congress leaders Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge), then there are reports that I couldn't meet anyone," Shivakumar said in response to a question on his visit to the national capital and meeting with Congress high command.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, "not wanting to speak about things, I'm quiet. But one thing is sure, time will answer everything. Other than that I will not discuss anything."
To a question on his brother and former Congress MP D K Suresh's recent statement that the high command will give good news, the Deputy CM said, "my brother is saying, also party workers and you (media) are saying it."
Responding to a question on his supporters having "huge" expectations, he said, "140 people (Congress and supporting MLAs) are in support of me, including the Chief Minister."
"Do you know what the Chief Minister and I have discussed? We know what we have discussed in front of Rahul Gandhi and the high command, and what we have decided together. Can I discuss it publicly before the media. I will not discuss, there is time for everything and time will answer everything."
Asked about discussions that "good news" is expected in April, Shivakumar said, "let's see, why discuss it now."
The leadership tussle within the ruling party has intensified amid speculation about a possible change of chief minister after the Congress government completed the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20, 2025.
The speculation has been fuelled by the reported "power-sharing" arrangement between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar at the time of government formation in 2023.
Top Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had a brief conversation with Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar last week at Mysuru airport while transiting to New Delhi from Tamil Nadu, which had sparked off speculations amid the leadership tussle.
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Decide on participation by Jan 21 or risk removal from T20 WC: ICC to BCB
New Delhi (PTI): The ICC has asked the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to decide on its participation in the T20 World Cup in India by January 21 or "risk being replaced by another team" in the tournament beginning February 7.
Despite the back and forth between ICC and BCB, no solution has been found to the crisis that was triggered by the removal of Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the 2026 Indian Premier League on BCCI's instructions for unspecified "developments all around."
"The BCB officials have been told to decide on the participation by January 21. If they refuse to travel to India, then they should be ready to be replaced by another team as per rankings," said an ICC source.
Citing security concerns and national pride, the BCB has announced that its national team won't be travelling to India for its group games in Kolkata and Mumbai.
However, with the event schedule already finalised, the ICC has shown reluctance to shift Bangladesh's games to co-host Sri Lanka, where the marquee India-Pakistan clash will be held as per the mutually agreed arrangement for ICC events till 2027.
In case Bangladesh continue to be unyielding, the replacement team would most likely be Scotland based on current rankings. Bangladesh are scheduled to play three leagues games in Kolkata and one in Mumbai.
The BCB has remained adamant on either a change of venue or a change of groups to facilitate its games in Sri Lanka.
Bangladesh are currently placed in Group C along with the West Indies, Italy, England and Nepal.
In their last meeting with ICC officials in Dhaka, the BCB proposed that Bangladesh be swapped with Ireland in Group B alongside Sri Lanka, Australia, Oman and Zimbabwe.
Such a move would allow the team to be based completely in Sri Lanka for all its league engagements.
"...the possibility of moving Bangladesh to a different group as a means of facilitating the matter with minimum logistical adjustments was discussed," the BCB had stated after the meeting on Saturday.
While the BCB considers it unsafe for its players to travel to India, ICC's risk assessment report does not flag any specific or direct threat to the team if it participates in the tournament.
Bilateral relations between India and Bangladesh have deteriorated with the killings of Hindus in Bangladesh.
Former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal and current Test skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto have cautioned against a very hard-line approach on the controversial subject with the former saying that decisions taken today would have repercussions 10 years down the line.
