No agreement with DK Shivakumar on power-sharing, will abide by high command decision: Siddaramaiah
Mandya (Karnataka), Dec 4: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday said there was no agreement between him and Deputy CM D K Shivakumar over power-sharing, before the Congress came to power in the state, and would abide by the decision of the party high command.
Reacting to Siddaramaiah's comments, Shivakumar, who is also the state Congress President, said whatever the CM says is final.
"There was no agreement. I will abide by the high command's decision," Siddaramaiah told media, in response to a question on Shivakumar's reported statement that there was an agreement between them, before coming to power.
There was stiff competition between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar for the CM's post after the declaration of Assembly election results in May last year, 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. Shivakumar has made no secret of his ambition to become Chief Minister.
Reacting to the CM's statement, Shivakumar told reporters in Bengaluru: "Once the Chief Minister has said, there is no objection to it...what he, the CM says is final. No objections, I'm always loyal to the Chair, I'm loyal to the party. The CM has said -- no (further) question, no discussion , no debate."
Asked if there was no pain, Shivakumar replied, "I have responded to all of that."
To another query whether the cabinet reshuffle was on the cards, the CM said, "not now...."
Asked about some MLAs vying for ministerial positions, he said, "...ultimately the high command has to instruct me and I will have to decide. The high command has not told me anything, and I have not decided ."
Speculations are rife about a possible cabinet reshuffle and evaluation of the performance of the ministers, ever since the Lok Sabha poll results.
There has also been a demand from a section of MLAs, who are ministerial aspirants, to be inducted into the cabinet. Some have even openly expressed their wish to become ministers.
Responding to a question on 'Jana Kalyana Samavesha' in Hassan, Siddaramaiah said, "Tomorrow a convention has been organised jointly by the Congress party and Swabhimanigala Okkuta (federation organisations of oppressed communities).
Probably Swabhimanigala Okkuta will be getting more people for the convention."
While downplaying the change in the name of the convention, he said, "...it is being organised jointly, the Congress party has also joined."
The state Congress led by its President Shivakumar has renamed the convention as 'Jana Kalyana Samavesha' from 'Siddaramaiah Swabhimaani Janandolana Samavesha', and it is unlikely to be a Siddaramaiah-centric mega "show of strength" event, as was originally planned by his supporters.
The convention was initially organised by the federation of organisations of oppressed communities, in solidarity with the Chief Minister, who is facing allegations in the MUDA site allotment scam.
However, the Congress party's involvement as the joint host of the event was confirmed by the Chief Minister himself last week, amid reports that a section of leaders within the party were against such an event being organised outside the party framework.
The event, originally aimed at mobilising support for Siddaramaiah amid an investigation into the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) site allotment scam, will now also highlight the government's "pro-people" programmes, especially the guarantee schemes, among other initiatives, party sources said.
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Araijeet's four goals hand India 5th title in men's junior Asia Cup
Muscat, Dec 4: Araijeet Singh Hundal slammed four goals as defending champions India defeated arch-rivals Pakistan 5-3 in the summit clash to win a hat-trick of titles in the men's junior Asia Cup here on Wednesday.
This was India's fifth title in the continental tournament, having previously won the crown in 2004, 2008, 2015 and 2023.
The tournament was not held in 2021 due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Araijeet converted three penalty corners in the fourth, 18th and 54th minutes besides finding the net from a field effort in the 47th minute. Dilraj Singh (19th) was the other goal getter for India.
For Pakistan, Sufyan Khan (30th, 39th) converted two penalty corners, while Hannan Shahid scored from field play in the third minute.
Japan defeated Malaysia 2-1 to claim the third spot earlier in the day.
There was hardly anything to differentiate between the two sides as both India and Pakistan fought hard for ball possession in the first quarter.
The highlight of the first quarter was ariel passes employed by both the teams.
But Pakistan had the first laugh, striking as early as the third minute through a field goal from Shahid.
India didn't sit back and secured their first penalty corner seconds later, and Araijeet stepped up to draw level with a powerful drag-flick to the right of Pakistan goalkeeper.
India upped their game in the second quarter and secured their second penalty corner in the 18th minute and Araijeet struck again with another powerful flick.
A minute later, a fine field goal by Dilraj extended India's lead to 3-1.
Pakistan, however, reduced the margin in the 30th minute through a penalty corner conversion by Sufyan.
Pakistan were the better side on display after the change of ends and they drew level in the 39th minute through another penalty corner conversion by Sufyan.
India secured their third penalty corner in the 47th minute, but Araijeet's effort was saved by Pakistan goalkeeper Muhammad Janjua.
Araijeet, however, was not to be denied his hat-trick as he found the net from a field effort seconds later to hand India the lead again.
India pressed hard on the Pakistan citadel in the final 10 minutes and secured a few more penalty corners and Araijeet found the net again from a fine variation to make the scoreline 5-3.
