No one can become CM without support of majority MLAs, high command blessings: Siddaramaiah
Bagalkote (Karnataka), Oct 13 (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday said no one can become the CM without the support of the majority number of the party legislators, along with the blessings of the Congress high command.
The statement came amid speculation about a change of guard and cabinet reshuffle in the state when the Congress government reaches the halfway mark of its five-year term in November, which is being referred to by some as "November revolution".
"I don't want to respond to such things. High command is high command. The opinions of the legislators and the high command are both very important. Without the opinion of the legislators no one can become the chief minister. Only if there is a majority (support of legislators), one can become (CM). The high command's blessings are also required," Siddaramaiah told reporters here.
He was responding to a question on a reported statement by Deputy CM D K Shivakumar that leadership changes can happen in the state based on the high command's decision, and the support of a number of legislators were not required.
Asked about the November revolution, the CM said, "There is no kranit (revolution), no branti (delusion)."
There has been speculation within state's political circles, especially within the ruling Congress, for some time now about the chief minister change later this year, citing alleged power-sharing agreement involving Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar.
Home Minister G Parameshwara, speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, said there is a convention in the Congress that while forming the government to choose the Congress legislature party leader or the CM, the high command will send observers to gather the opinion of the legislators, and whoever gets the majority, his or her name will be announced as the CM.
Siddaramaiah was chosen as the CM following a similar process both first and the second time. Even when S M Krishna was made the chief minister, the same process was followed. "However, if the high command says the opinion of the legislators is not required, it is left to them. It is their decision. Everyone will abide by the high command's decision," he said.
Pointing out that there are several chief ministerial aspirants in the party and anyone can occupy the top post, Parameshwara said, whoever the high command decides, all of them will support him or her.
Asked, only Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar's names were doing rounds for the post, amid speculation about CM change, he said, "They are front runners. Others are in second or third level."
Amid talks about CM change, Siddaramaiah has constantly reiterated that he will complete a full five years term.
According to party sources, Siddaramaiah and his camp are pushing for a cabinet reshuffle.
They said, any move by the chief minister to effect a cabinet reshuffle, as the government is about to complete 2.5 years in office, will be widely seen as a message that he is at the helm and will continue to do so. The action may come across as a setback for Shivakumar, who is known to be waiting to lay claim to the chief minister's chair.
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Govt to set up Bureau of Port Security to boost port, vessel security
New Delhi (PTI): To beef up the security infrastructure of ports, the government will set up a statutory body -- the Bureau of Port Security -- that will ensure timely analysis, collection and exchange of security-related information of ports and vessels, officials said on Friday.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday convened a meeting for the constitution of the dedicated body, the Bureau of Port Security (BoPS), which was attended by the Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, and the Minister of Civil Aviation, Ram Mohan Naidu, an official statement said.
Emphasising that there is a need to establish a country-wide robust port security framework, Shah directed that security measures should be implemented in a graded and risk-based manner, taking into account vulnerabilities, trade potential, location, and other relevant parameters.
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The meeting also noted that lessons learned from the maritime security framework shall be replicated in the aviation security domain, the statement said.
The new body, modelled on the lines of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), will be constituted as a statutory body under the new Merchant Shipping Act, 2025, and will work under the aegis of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), it said.
Headed by a senior IPS officer as its director general, the BoPS will be responsible for regulatory and oversight functions relating to the security of ships and port facilities.
"During the transition period of one year, the director general of shipping shall function as the director general of BoPS," the statement said.
"The BoPS will ensure timely analysis, collection and exchange of security-related information, with a special focus on cybersecurity, including a dedicated division to safeguard port IT infrastructure from digital threats," it said.
The government has designated the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) as a recognised security organisation (RSO), responsible for undertaking security assessments and preparation of security plans for port facilities.
The Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) will train and build the capacities of private security agencies (PSAs) engaged in port security.
"These agencies shall be certified and appropriate regulatory measures shall be introduced to ensure that only the licensed PSAs operate in this sector," the statement said.
