Siddaramaiah will not give up CM post on his own, claims Kumaraswamy
Mysuru (Karnataka) (PTI): Amid the ongoing power tussle within the ruling Congress in the state, Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Friday claimed that Siddaramaiah will not give up the Chief Minister post on his own.
The JD(S) leader was responding to a question about whether Siddaramaiah will complete a full five-year term (2023-28) or give up the Chief Minister's post.
"He (Siddaramaiah) has said he will continue as CM if the high command says so, while his son (MLC Yathindra Siddaramaiah) says that his father will be CM for a full five years. We have seen him (Siddaramaiah) when he was with us (JD(S)), we have experience with him. Many in Congress also have experience but cannot speak out," Kumaraswamy said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, "In my opinion, there is no question of him (Siddaramaiah) giving up (CM post) on his own."
"He threatens the Congress high command and has ensured they cannot speak (against him)," the JD(S) second-in-command claimed.
Amid speculations about a leadership change, Siddaramaiah recently asserted that the Congress government will remain in power for two more years and that he is the CM of the state.
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 his deputy D K Shivakumar when the Congress formed government in 2023.
Responding to a question about his party leaders and legislators repeatedly stating that Kumaraswamy will become the Chief Minister once again, the JD(S) leader said it is up to God's will and the will of the people.
"Is it in our hands? Did any astrologer or our party workers predict when I became chief minister twice in the past? Some party workers may shout such slogans wherever I go, out of their affection towards me...with God's grace, I became CM twice, but did I occupy that post with a clear majority. No. God wrote it in my fate, I became CM. If I have to become CM once again, it is God's will. Let's see what is the will of the people," he said.
Kumaraswamy has headed the coalition government with both the national parties despite JD(S) being a junior partner -- for 20 months with BJP from February 2006 and with Congress for 14 months after the May 2018 Assembly polls.
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RR beat RCB by six wickets in IPL
Guwahati (PTI): Blistering fifties by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Dhruv Jurel powered Rajasthan Royals to a six-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their IPL match here on Friday.
Sent in to bat, RCB rode on a fighting half-century by skipper Rajat Patidar (63) to post 201 for 8.
Virat Kohli (32), Romario Shepherd (22) and Venkatesh Iyer (29) also chipped in with useful contributions.
In reply, Sooryavanshi (78 off 26 balls) and Dhruv Jurel (81 not out off 43 balls) shared a 37-ball 108-run partnership for the second wicket to set the platform. Krunal Pandya (2/30) tried to bring them back with back-to-back wickets.
But Jurel, in the company of Ravindra Jadeja (24), completed the task with another 68-run stand, with two overs to spare.
For RR, Jofra Archer (2/33), Ravi Bishnoi (2/32) and Brijesh Sharma (2/37) took two wickets.
Brief scores:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: 201 for 8 in 20 overs (Rajat Patidar 63; Jofra Archer 2/33, Ravi Bishnoi 2/32, Brijesh Sharma 2/37).
Rajasthan Royals: 202 for 4 in 18 overs (Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 78, Dhruv Jurel 80 not out; Krunal Pandya 2/30, Josh Hazlewood 2/44).
