My only group is Congress group: DK Shivakumar
Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar met face-to-face over breakfast on Friday, following the Congress high command’s instruction to sit together and clear the air over the ongoing leadership debate.
The meeting took place at the CM’s official residence, Cauvery, and lasted for about 40 minutes. With the past one week filled with speculation over power-sharing, factional politics and rumours of internal tension, the breakfast meeting had drawn considerable curiosity.
After the meeting, Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar addressed a joint press conference.
Siddaramaiah said both leaders had agreed to follow the directions of the party’s senior leadership. He insisted that neither ministers nor MLAs were against the government. He added that since the Assembly session is coming up, the high command asked both leaders to remove any confusion. “From tomorrow, there will be no confusion. Even now, there is none. We will inform the high command about our understanding,” he said.
He pointed out that unnecessary speculation had been created. “Some media houses have created this confusion. A few MLAs may have visited Delhi regarding cabinet reshuffle, but that should not be misunderstood,” he said.
Siddaramaiah added that the two leaders discussed upcoming elections, the 2028 Assembly polls and the local body elections, and the need to work together like they did in the 2023 Assembly election. “We have decided to move forward unitedly,” he said.
He also underlined that there was no rift between them. “There is no difference now, and there will be no difference in future. The winter session in Belagavi begins on December 8. We have faced BJP and JD(S) strongly before, and we will continue to do so. Their trademark is misinformation and baseless allegations. We have prepared our strategy to counter them,” he said.
Shivakumar, speaking after Siddaramaiah, said the two leaders shared the same stand on the leadership issue. “We will follow what the high command says,” he confirmed.
He said Karnataka has a big responsibility at a time when the Congress is facing challenges at the national level. “After the 2028 Assembly election, we will face the 2029 Lok Sabha election under the leadership of Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi. Our aim is to bring Congress back to power in Karnataka in 2028 and at the Centre in 2029. We have been working together till now and will continue with the same commitment,” he said.
Shivakumar also said Siddaramaiah will visit his home for dinner in the coming days. “We are working together. The hard work of our cadres and the support of the people brought the Congress to power. We are serving people as promised. It is our responsibility to fulfil people’s expectations. The government is functioning under Siddaramaiah’s leadership, and we are following the high command’s direction,” he said.
He stated firmly that he belongs to no internal group. “There was no groupism even during Krishna’s time, and there is none now. My only group is the Congress group. In Siddaramaiah’s first term, even when I was not made a minister for the first six months, I never complained. My commitment to work together is firm. Our job is to strengthen the party, empower every MLA and move together. We have planned many programmes to bring Congress back to power in 2028, and we are already working in that direction,” he added.
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ED raids Kolkata Police deputy commissioner, businessman in PMLA probe
Kolkata (PTI): The Enforcement Directorate on Sunday conducted raids at the premises of Kolkata Police Deputy Commissioner Shantanu Sinha Biswas and a local businessman as part of a money laundering probe against an alleged criminal and his linked syndicate in the poll-bound state, officials said.
Two premises of Biswas, including his residence in Ballygunge area and one location of the businessman named Joy Kamdar, Managing Director of a company named Sun Enterprise, have been raided under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Kamdar has been taken by the officials to the local ED office for questioning. Biswas, chief coordinator and nodal officer of the West Bengal and Kolkata Police welfare committee, was not present at his premises, they said.
The action is linked to a money laundering case against an alleged local criminal named Biswajit Podder alias Sona Pappu, who is booked in multiple cases on charges of attempted murder and extortion.
The federal probe agency had conducted the first round of searches in this case on April 1.
The ED had then seized cash of Rs 1.47 crore apart from gold jewellery and silver valued at Rs 67.64 lakh and a country-made revolver from some premises that were searched.
The probe stems from a Kolkata Police FIR against against Podder for his alleged involvement in rioting, attempt to murder, criminal conspiracy and Arms Act violations. The accused, including Podder, were engaged in organised criminal syndicate activities in the state of West Bengal and generated funds illegally by way of syndicate operations, the ED said in a statement on April 9.
Podder is also wanted by the police in a case of violence in Kankulia road near Golpark of Kolkata and is currently on the run.
The ED has issued summons to Podder but he has failed to join the investigation so far, according to the agency.
West Bengal will have a two phase poll on April 23 and April 29.
