Siddaramaiah asked high command to clear air on leadership issue early: Minister Jarkiholi
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Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Minister Satish Jarkiholi on Wednesday said Chief Minister Siddramaiah has asked the Congress High Command to clear the air at the earliest on the issue of leadership change in the state.
The Minister, who holds the public works portfolio, told reporters that he would soon seek time from Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to meet him.
According to him, Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar harbors the ambition to become the chief minister, and he had made it known to all from day one, but the party high command gave a chance to Siddaramaiah.
Noting that the party high command has to decide on the leadership change, Jarkiholi said Siddaramaiah has also said that the high command should finalize it at the earliest.
"When CM says it, then seniors in the party should take note of it," the minister said.
Asked whether the MLAs have agreed to it, Jarkiholi said such a discussion is not taking place in the party at present.
"There is no discussion on leadership change in the party. Once it comes up, then we will discuss, but there is no discussion on it in the party right now," the minister said.
To a question whether he met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to resolve the matter, Jarkiholi said he will seek time and meet Kharge to discuss this issue and to express his opinion.
He added that Shivakumar had met many people -- some at his residence and some others outside. He also said he too had met him but did not disclose the content of the discussion.
Regarding Home Minister G. Parameshwara's claim that he should also be made the CM, the Public Works Minister said Parameshwara had served as party president for five years.
"I had said in Belagavi that there is nothing wrong in making such claims. So he too is senior, but who will decide finally? It happens in Delhi. All that we can do is just make a claim."
Referring to Siddaramaiah's services in the party post retirement, Jarkiholi said, "We (Congress) will require CM Siddaramaiah's leadership, his service and guidance even after his retirement from active politics."
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy Shivakumar are locked in a stiff competition for the state's top post.
Shivakumar has been insisting on being made the next chief minister, said sources close to him.
According to sources in the Congress, Shivakumar held a one-hour meeting with Jarkiholi in a private hotel.
Meanwhile, Shivakumar told media on Wednesday that he had discussed political strategy, strengthening the party, and bringing the party back to power in 2028 during his discussion with Jarkiholi.
He said he was meeting a lot of other senior leaders of the party, like Ministers Zameer Ahmed Khan, K H Muniyappa, Priyank Kharge, and others, to discuss political strategy.
"We want to see that we retain power in the state and see to it that Rahul Gandhi takes over as the Prime Minister of the country after the 2029 Lok Sabha polls," the Deputy CM said.
"Of course, Satish Jarkiholi had worked with me as a working president (of the party). We all have worked together. We are cabinet colleagues, we want to see that in 2028 we come back to power. We want to have a road map by taking every section of the society together. We want to strengthen the party. We have discussed all this. I always keep on meeting. What's wrong, he is my colleague and senior leader of the party," he said.
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Withdraw 'disrespectful' remark against Rahul Gandhi and apologise: Pilot asks Rijiju
Mumbai (PTI): Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Thursday hit out at Union minister Kiren Rijiju for passing a "disrespectful and inappropriate" remark against Rahul Gandhi, and asked him to apologise for it.
He was answering a query regarding Rijiju's reported statement in which he described Gandhi as the "most dangerous person" for India's security, and a purported video of a man claiming to be from Karni Sena issuing death threats to the Congress leader.
Addressing a press conference here, Pilot said, "When ordinary journalists criticise the government, they face FIRs and jail. But when threats are issued against the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha (Rahul Gandhi), there is silence. This shows the government's intention. LoP is a constitutional position. To describe him as a security threat is inappropriate and disrespectful. Even as such open threats are being made, the government is not taking any action."
"The statement 9against Gandhi) should be withdrawn and an apology should be issued," the Congress general secretary said, adding that it is the job of the LoP to seek accountability from the government and ask questions.
To a query on the plane crash in which Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was killed on January 28, Pilot said, "I do not want to speculate. There should be a transparent, time-bound inquiry. If there are doubts, a high-level investigation should clarify facts."
When asked about the demand for leadership change in the opposition INDIA bloc, he said, "Leadership decisions are internal matters. The alliance worked remarkably well in the last Lok Sabha election. The gap in numbers between the INDIA bloc and the NDA was not very wide. We are working together strongly and will continue to do so."
The Congress has been helming the INDIA bloc, a coalition of Opposition parties formed before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections to counter the ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). However, voices from disgruntled Congress members and those associated with the UPA dispensation suggested that the leadership of the opposition alliance should be given to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee or Tamil Nadu CM M K Stalin.
On Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Indian economy, Pilot said, "India is a major IT power. We have talent and capability. Many countries see India as a natural partner. But we must use our strengths wisely and not compromise our sovereignty under pressure."
"India should have the freedom to decide where to buy oil from. That is a sovereign decision," Pilot said.
On the issue of illegal migration, he said anybody staying illegally in India should be removed regardless of religion or caste.
"But this issue should not be politicised. If the border has been under control for 11 years, how did illegal immigrants enter? The government should provide data on how many people have been deported," he said.
"This government's intent and policies are anti-farmer and there is no accountability. The opposition will continue to demand answers from the government and stand with farmers and the people of India," he said.
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