K'taka leadership change no longer an issue, Cong high command decides such matters: Surjewala
Bengaluru, Jul 8 (PTI): AICC General Secretary in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala on Tuesday declined to comment on the ongoing discussions regarding leadership change in the state, suggesting that it is no longer pertinent and also indicated that such decisions rest with the party high command.
This even as the ruling Congress MLAs continue to openly discuss the prospect of a leadership change, despite warnings from the party leadership to refrain from making statements on the matter.
Addressing speculations surrounding Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar's visit to New Delhi, which some linked to the possibility of change in the CM, the Congress General Secretary clarified that the trip was for official government work and to present the state's case and demands to the central government.
"My PCC President (Shivakumar) has already taken note of the same. As far as leadership issues are concerned, I spoke to you last week along with the PCC President, who is also the Deputy Chief Minister. Whatever we had to say on that issue, we have already spoken," Surjewala told reporters in response to a question about MLAs openly making statements on leadership change and internal issues.
"Somebody can have a desire, like a journalist can have a desire to become the editor, but it is ultimately the owner of the television channel who will pick an editor. All I'm saying is, we have already spoken, I don't think so, that's an issue any longer."
Last week, Surjewala had said any news that is circulated in the media about leadership change is only a "figment of imagination", while AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge had asserted that it is up to the party high command to decide on matters such as change of guard.
Amid intense speculations about CM change, Siddaramaiah had said he will be the Chief Minister for a full five-year term. In his reaction, Shivakumar indicated that he had no option and would stand by Siddaramaiah.
There has been speculation within political circles, especially within the ruling Congress, for some time now about the Chief Minister change later this year, citing power-sharing agreement involving incumbent Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar.
While Shivakumar is already in Delhi to meet with Union Ministers, Siddaramaiah will be travelling to the national capital on Wednesday and is scheduled to hold discussions with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
According to party sources, their meeting with Congress leadership during the visit cannot be ruled out.
Responding to a query on CM and Deputy CM's visit to Delhi amid leadership change rumours, Surjewala quipped, "they are not barred from travelling to Delhi".
"There is no injunction or stay. For government work and for pleading our (state) case before the Government of India, they often travel to Delhi, and they should be travelling and trying to persuade with all our might the Government of India, not to discriminate against and not give step-motherly treatment to people of Karnataka,"
"As far as our MLAs are concerned, many can have issues, I have asked them to give me in writing... we are resolving them one by one," he added.
Surjewala is in Karnataka once again, as part of the second phase of his one-on-one meetings with MLAs.
He explained that his visit to Karnataka is to gather feedback from party legislators on how the Congress government's guarantee schemes are performing in their respective constituencies and to identify areas for further improvement.
"To understand whether the district and taluk guarantee committees are able to reach out to people and settle the grievances or not, what our legislators have done to help the people and in terms of public development over two years," Surjewala said.
"Also, what more should be done and how should the government and the party be assisting them (MLAs). Also, what is the status of organisational preparedness in their respective assembly constituencies," he added.
Meanwhile, Ramanagara MLA H A Iqbal Hussain, who has been served a show cause notice by the party for making statements before the media that Shivakumar should become the CM said he stands by his statement and will reiterate it.
"... I have been asked not to violate the party discipline by discussing the matter in public. I won't discuss it. I stand by my statement and the same will be there in my reply to the show cause notice, which I will be sending today," he said.
Channapatna MLA C P Yogeshwara said he has no ambition to become a Minister, and instead desires to see Shivakumar elevated to the post of CM first.
"We are all saying it. All the MLAs from the district (Bengaluru South/Ramanagara) are unanimous that D K Shivakumar should become the CM, there is no difference of opinion on this...the high command has to decide. I support Shivakumar becoming the CM," he said.
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Leadership issue: Cong high command will call us at 'appropriate time,' will wait, says Shivakumar
Bengaluru, Dec 20 (PTI): With the leadership issue involving him and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah coming to the fore again, deputy CM DK Shivakumar on Saturday said the Congress high command has told the two leaders as to when they will be called to Delhi to to discuss the matter.
He said that both of them will go to Delhi and meet the high command, when summoned.
"I will inform you, I won't do anything without informing you. I will not go hiding from you," Shivakumar told reporters here in response to a question on him and Siddaramaiah's likely visit to the national capital to meet the party high command after the just concluded legislature session.
Asked if there was any invitation from the high command, asking him and CM to come to Delhi, he said, "they have told something to both of us, they have told both of us over phone as to when they will call us. We will go, both of us will go."
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"They (high command) have said they will call both of us at the appropriate time, we will wait for the call," the Karnataka Congress chief added.
Shivakumar's statement came a day after Siddaramaiah asserted in the Assembly that he would continue in office. He had also said that the Congress high command was "in my favour" and asserted that no decision was made on him staying at the helm for only two-and-a-half years, as per a rumoured 2023 agreement on power-sharing with his deputy.
Shivakumar, had said that he and CM Siddaramaiah have come to an agreement with the involvement of the Congress high command, and both of them will abide by it.
The power tussle within the ruling party has intensified amid speculations about a change in chief minister in the state, after the Congress government reached the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20.
The speculation was fueled by the "power-sharing" pact between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar in 2023.
Meanwhile some 'Naga Sadhus' visited the Deputy CM's residence and blessed him.
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Stating that he is going to Delhi on Tuesday to meet various central ministers, Shivakumar, who is also the Minister for water resources said, "the central government's water resources department has called us regarding interlinking of rivers."
"I will go there and discuss matters related to the state's river projects like Mahadayi, Krishna water award, Mekedatu, and Upper Badhra."
He said he will also meet the central water resources minister, forest minister, urban development minister.
"There are a lot of issues. We wanted to meet them along with MPs from the state, but still I will go and meet. Then after that, if needed, we will meet the Prime Minister also with the issues," Shivkumar added.
Hitting out at the Modi government at the Center for replacing the existing rural employment law MGNREGA, and removing Mahatma Gandhi's name from it, Shivakumar accused it of insulting the father of the nation.
He also challenged the government to remove Gandhiji's image from currency notes.
"The country wants Gandhi. People of the country will respond to it," he said.
"They want to change Gandhi's name...let them change this picture of Gandhi also," he said, showing a currency note.
"With Gandhi's name we had started an employment guarantee scheme under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi and (late) Manmohan Singh (former PM), the MGNREGA.....they want to kill the scheme, so they have changed its name. A big movement will start against it from Karnataka itself," he said.
