Not lobbying for Karnataka Congress chief post, says D K Shivakumar
Bengaluru, Aug 28: Senior Congress leader D K Shivakumar on Tuesday said he was not lobbying for Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President post and will always abide by the Gandhi family decision.
Shivakumar's assertion comes in the backdrop of his recent visit to Delhi to meet the Congress leadership leading to speculations about him lobbying for the post. He visited Delhi amid reports that the state Congress chief will be changed.
"...I don't want to respond to what others are saying.
I'm not an aspirant to any position. I don't plead for any post. You (media) said I had gone for lobbying, why should I lobby?" he said here.
Speaking to reporters, he said, "I have belief in the Gandhi family and their leadership. Whatever they do I consider it as 'prasad' and accept it."
However, he was unwilling to give any direct response to a question whether he will accept the KPCC president post, if the party asked him.
"At several situations in the past when I was to be made (president), I was not made (president), now I'm not bothered about it. If it's in my fate, everything will come searching for me," he said, pointing out that Laxman Savadi, who is not even a legislator, was today Deputy Chief Minister.
"It was in his (Savadi's) fate, I congratulate him".
Shivakumar during his meeting with the central leadership of the party has reportedly asked them to consider his name for the post of the leader of the opposition (LoP) in the assembly, if not for KPCC chief.
Responding to a question,Shivakumar said Siddaramaiah was the leader of the Congress legislature party and it was left to the high command to decide on who should be the LoP.
Rubbishing media reports that he had made comments against Siddaramaiah, who is the other main contender for the post of LoP post,he said "I'm not someone who make such loose comments against someone, under whom I have worked. I was Minister under Siddaramaiah in his government."
With B S Yediyurappa taking over as the Chief Minister last month, following the fall of theCongress-JD(S) coalition government, the LoP post is vacant.
With the Congress now the principal opposition party in the assembly, the position goes to it.
Besides Siddaramaiah, there are several other senior leaders including Shivakumar, H K Patil and Krishna ByreGowda, who are reportedly eyeing for the post.
According to party sources, the state unit is waiting for AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal and senior leader Ghulam Nabi Azad's visit to decide on the LoP and other matters.
Asked whether there will be mid-term polls as predicted by Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar said, "let's not come to any decision urgently. They have just begun... I'm also waiting for our 'Bombay Blue Boys' to become Ministers," he added.
He was apparently referring to 17 disqualified Congress-JDS MLAs who stayed put in a Mumbai hotel at the height of dissidence that led to collapse of the coalition government
As the Yediyurappa government in Karnataka completed one month in office on Monday, Siddaramaiah had claimed it may last one year at the most.
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26-year-old youth from Andhra dies by suicide in US
Kurnool (Andhra Pradesh) (PTI): A 26-year-old youth from this district has died allegedly by suicide in Chicago, US, recently, due to distress over debt, sources said on Saturday.
The family members of the deceased have requested that the identity of their relative be withheld, noting that his parents are senior citizens suffering from medical conditions.
Reacting to the incident, Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Nara Lokesh expressed condolences and assured assistance for the repatriation of the mortal remains of the deceased.
"My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. I request Union Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu to ensure smooth and hassle-free transport of the mortal remains," Lokesh said in a post on X.
An NRI community member from the US posted on social media that one of their members from Kurnool on Optional Practical Training (OPT) passed away in Chicago a few days ago.
He said Telugu Association of North America (TANA) had completed all necessary documentation and formalities to send the mortal remains to India for final rites.
He further requested assistance in expediting the cargo pickup, currently scheduled for Sunday, seeking an earlier arrangement considering the urgency.
(Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the state’s health helpline 104, Tele-MANAS 14416.)
