Shivakumar's Delhi visit triggers fresh speculation about leadership change after Budget Session
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar's visit to New Delhi on Sunday has once again triggered speculations, linking it to a possible leadership change in the state, after the Budget Session of the Legislature.
According to official and party sources, Shivakumar left for the national capital with AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge from Kalaburagi on Sunday evening. Earlier that day, both leaders had shared a stage to launch various development projects worth Rs 1,069 crore at Chittapur in the district.
According to Shivakumar's tour programme shared with the media, he is in New Delhi to attend a private programme and will stay there tonight. He is scheduled to return to Bengaluru on Monday morning.
Amid the ongoing tussle between him and Shivakumar over the CM post, Siddaramaiah asserted on Saturday that he can continue and present two more budgets if the Congress high command gives him the opportunity.
Siddaramaiah on Friday presented his record 17th Budget as the state's finance minister.
A few legislators loyal to Shivakumar have reportedly expressed their intention to travel to Delhi to urge the party high command to make their leader the CM, after the Budget session of the legislature. The session is scheduled to conclude on March 27.
Meanwhile, Shivakumar is scheduled to host a dinner for all ministers, Congress MLAs and MLCs on March 10 to mark his completion of six years as Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president.
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Surjewala slams Pratap Simha’s ‘vile’ remarks on CM Siddaramaiah, demands apology from BJP
Bengaluru (PTI): Congress general secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the BJP over alleged disparaging remarks made by former Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah during an assembly bypoll campaign in Bagalkote.
Simha made the remarks while campaigning for BJP candidate Veerabhadrayya Charantimath, triggering a political row ahead of the by-elections scheduled for April 9.
Congress has fielded Umesh Meti, son of former MLA late M Y Meti, whose death necessitated the bye-election.
"Pratap Simha's vile remarks about Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Bagalkot have exposed the BJP's despicable politics once again," Surjewala said in a social media post.
Alleging a larger political design, he added, "It is increasingly evident that Pratap Simha’s outburst is driven by desperation," and accused the BJP of using such remarks to target backward classes, Scheduled Castes, and minorities.
The Rajya Sabha member further claimed that the incident reflects a pattern within the party. "This is not one man's madness—it is the BJP’s political culture," he said, adding that the remarks were aimed at "denigrating leaders from marginalised communities".
Referring to past incidents, Surjewala said, "CM Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar have received death threats in the past, including one from BJP leaders who warned that their bodies would be stuffed into a refrigerator."
The Congress leader also criticised the BJP’s bypoll campaign strategy, alleging "internal contradictions".
He pointed to the party’s use of expelled MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal in campaigning despite earlier disciplinary action against him, accusing the BJP of resorting to "abuses and indignities" against opposition leaders.
Surjewala demanded immediate action from the BJP leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP national president Nitin Nabin, state president B Y Vijayendra, and Leader of Opposition R Ashoka.
He said they must tender a public apology to Kannadigas, particularly to OBCs, SCs, and minorities, over the remarks, and urged the party to expel Simha if it does not repudiate his statements.
Surjewala also called for legal action, demanding that an FIR be registered against Simha and that strict measures be taken.
Warning of "political consequences", he said the electorate in the bypoll-bound constituencies would respond decisively if the BJP failed to apologise, asserting that voters would "teach the BJP a befitting lesson" in the elections.
There has been no immediate reaction from the saffron party yet.
