Become CM after winning next Assembly polls: Minister KN Rajanna to DK Shivakumar
Bengaluru, Jan 10: Karnataka Minister K N Rajanna on Friday suggested Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar to become Chief Minister of the state for the full five years, after winning the next Assembly polls under his leadership, rather than eyeing the post during the remaining two-and-half years of the current government's tenure.
His comments came following Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's recent dinner with select Dalit and ST Cabinet colleagues, creating a buzz within the Congress, amid speculation about a possible change of guard in the state after March, under a "rotational chief minister" or "power-sharing" formula.
Cooperation Minister Rajanna, who is considered to be a confidant of Siddaramaiah, was also part of the dinner meeting.
Shivakumar has made no secret of his ambition to become the CM.
"As a human being, the desire for power is natural. I don't feel that him (Shivakumar) showing interest or desire for the Chief Minister post is wrong. Previous (2023) election was under the leadership of Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, and people blessed us (Congress)," Rajanna said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, the high command has appointed the legislature party leader, who is the CM, and they have the powers to change the leader in the future if they want, and everyone will accept whatever decision they make.
"Let's go for the next Assembly polls under Shivakumar's leadership, and with the party coming to power once again under his leadership, let him be the chief minister for the full five years, why fight for two-and-half years now?"
Rajanna said, "I'm not saying don't fight for two-and-half years. My suggestion for him is why fight to be CM for two-and-half years, become CM for a full five years. Who will object..."
Asked if he will be minister in Shivakumar's cabinet if there is a chance, Rajanna said, he won't contest elections anymore, and also don't expect to become minister in anyone's cabinet.
There was stiff competition between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar for the CM's post after the declaration of Assembly election results in May 2023, and the Congress had managed to convince the latter and made him the Deputy Chief Minister.
There were some reports at the time that a compromise had been reached based on a "rotational chief minister formula," according to which Shivakumar will become CM after two-and-half years, but they have not been officially confirmed by the party.
A meeting of Congress leaders, ministers, and lawmakers from SC/ST communities, scheduled for Wednesday evening under the leadership of Home Minister G Parameshwara and supported by Rajanna, had to be postponed following instructions from AICC general secretary in-charge of the state, Randeep Singh Surjewala.
According to sources, the decision to postpone the meeting came after Shivakumar, a chief ministerial aspirant, met AICC general secretary (Organisation) K C Venugopal in New Delhi on Monday night to discuss party developments.
A section within the Congress feels that the SC/ST convention and Parameshwara's dinner meeting could revive the demand for a Dalit or AHINDA (a Kannada acronym for minorities, backward classes, and Dalits) leader to become the next chief minister. This could complicate Shivakumar's prospects if Siddaramaiah steps down after the state budget, as speculated.
Rajanna had in the past demanded the party to enforce the 'one person, one post' policy, which was seen as a move to mount pressure on Shivakumar, who is also the state Congress chief.
He had also batted for three more Deputy Chief Ministers -- from Veerashaiva-Lingayat, SC/ST and minority communities -- along with Shivakumar a Vokkaliga.
Reacting to union minister and JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy's 60 per cent commission charge against the Congress government, Rajanna said, "Ask Kumaraswamy how much is his percentage and let's say what is the difference later. Is Kumaraswamy a Satya Harishchandra?"
Claiming that 90 per cent of political leaders in this country are corrupt, he said, "How much would we spend during elections? Where does that money come from? Do we spend by selling our assets? Don't we borrow from someone for it? Does the person who lends money, lends just like that? If we speak the truth before the media, it will become an issue. The situation is such that the truth cannot not be spoken."
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Privilege action: Comedian Kamra points to Bal Thackeray's cartoon on Indira Gandhi
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Mumbai (PTI): Questioning the Maharashtra legislature's action against him, stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra has cited Bal Thackeray's cartoon criticising then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to argue that the late Shiv Sena founder never faced privilege proceedings.
Kamra has been served with a breach of privilege notice over his satirical song targeting Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who claims to be carrying forward the political legacy of Bal Thackeray.
The comedian has shared on X a screenshot of his recent written deposition submitted to the legislature's privileges committee, in which he also included Bal Thackeray's cartoon, while responding to remarks by state minister and Shiv Sena leader Pratap Sarnaik.
Reacting to the privilege proceedings, Sarnaik on Saturday told reporters that, "Kunal Kamra, whatever he says, a breach of privilege motion has been referred to a committee by members of the legislative assembly, and he is giving his statement through that committee."
"But if his business is to sing songs about Eknath Shinde in a different way, then he should also understand the aggressive approach of Shiv Sainiks, as seen in the past. He should understand how Shiv Sainiks work, and he can learn about it if he wants," the minister added.
Kamra reposted Sarnaik's video on X along with a portion of his written reply, defending political satire and questioning the use of legislative privilege against comedians.
"Over the last year, I have faced multiple proceedings for a joke that I made about a fight for the political legacy of one of India's most fiery and acclaimed political cartoonists, Balasaheb Thackeray," Kamra said in his deposition.
He noted that Bal Thackeray had mocked several figures of authority, including sitting prime ministers, without facing privilege action.
Referring to the cartoon targeting Indira Gandhi, Kamra argued that defending Bal Thackeray's political legacy should include protecting the freedom of cartoonists and satirists. He added that political satire formed the foundation of the ideology that Eknath Shinde claims to inherit.
Kamra further expressed hope that the proceedings would highlight "little-known provisions of the Constitution" relating to legislative privilege that could be used by elected leaders to curb citizens' freedoms.
"The fact that in a 21st-century democracy, elected representatives have the power to institute proceedings against citizens who say things they don't like, and the power to condemn them to imprisonment for such speech, is something that should concern every citizen," he said.
Earlier, Kamra had refused to tender an unconditional apology in the case, calling such a move "insincere" and warning it would set a "terrible precedent" for artistic freedom.
Privileges committee chairperson Prasad Lad has said the panel would decide the matter based on Kamra's response.
The comedian appeared before the panel following a complaint by BJP MLC Pravin Darekar, alleging that Kamra insulted Shinde in a stand-up act and his remarks amounted to a breach of privilege.
During a performance in Mumbai last year, Kamra had used a modified version of a Hindi song from the movie ‘Dil To Pagal Hai’ to describe the upheaval in the Shiv Sena, then headed by Uddhav Thackeray.
Shinde rebelled against Uddhav Thackeray's leadership in June 2022, leading to a split in the Shiv Sena and the collapse of the then Maha Vikas Aghadi government.
During a show at a hotel in Mumbai's Khar area, Kamra performed a parody song targeting Shinde. After he uploaded a recording online, Shiv Sena supporters led by Rahool Kanal vandalised the venue and the hotel housing it in March 2025.
An FIR had been registered against Kamra at Khar police station on a complaint by Shiv Sena legislator Murji Patel, accusing him of making defamatory remarks against the deputy chief minister.
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