Three-day Karnataka Assembly session from Monday: Siddaramaiah
Bengaluru, May 20: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday said the Assembly session will be convened for three days from May 22, during which the newly elected MLAs will be administered oath, and a new Speaker will be elected.
Siddaramaiah was sworn in as Chief Minister for the second term, along with state Congress president D K Shivakumar as Deputy Chief Minister, and eight legislators as Ministers today, exactly a week after the party swept the Assembly polls in Karnataka.
"We are calling the Assembly session for three days -- Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, we are requesting the Governor, because the new Assembly has to be constituted before May 24. Senior most MLA R V Deshpande has been requested to be the Protem Speaker, to administer oaths to MLAs," Siddaramaiah said.
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Speaking to reporters after chairing the first Cabinet meeting today after taking oath as the Chief Minister, he said a new Assembly Speaker will be elected during the session.
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'Hard work brought me this far': Shivakumar confident about what Cong may decide for him
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said on Sunday that his hard work has brought him this far in politics and that he is confident about the Congress party’s future decision regarding him.
Shivakumar, also the state Congress president, made the comments amid a "power tussle" in the party over the chief minister’s post, in which he is involved.
He made the remarks while addressing the 'Udyami Vokkaliga-FC Expo 2025', an event aimed at promoting Vokkaliga entrepreneurship.
Shivakumar belongs to the Vokkaliga community, which has a substantial presence in south Karnataka.
"For my hard work, I have come this far, serving eight times as MLA and working in Bengaluru among all these people. I have faced many challenges to reach this position, and I am here. Whatever the party decides for me in the future, I am confident," Shivakumar said.
Recalling public support during his jail term for "political reasons", he said, "People across parties and communities continue to pray for me. I have said before...efforts may fail, but prayer never fails."
Shivakumar was arrested by the ED in September 2019 in a money laundering case, and the Delhi High Court granted him bail the following month.
Referring to being called a 'bande' (rock) by supporters, he said, "A rock is natural. When carved, it takes shape, and when worshipped in the form of an idol, it becomes culture."
The "power tussle" within the ruling party has intensified amid speculation about a possible change in the CM after the Congress government completed the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20.
The speculation follows a 2023 "power-sharing" pact between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar.
In a veiled attack on JD(S) leader and Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy, also a Vokkaliga, Shivakumar said members of his own community target and criticise him every day, but added that such things are common in politics.
"I may be younger, but I have gained extensive experience without any political background. Who is targeting me at the end of the day? It is members of my own community criticising me on TV and social media. Such attacks are common in politics, and we shouldn’t be bothered by them," he said.
Defending his record during the Kumaraswamy-led Congress-JD(S) coalition government, he said, "Kumaranna accused me of backstabbing him. No problem—I don’t need a certificate from anyone. My conscience is enough".
Responding to a question about Kumaraswamy’s claim that Siddaramaiah is on a "lease" as CM, Shivakumar said the chief minister is capable of responding and added, "We don’t take such statements seriously."
On MGNREGA, he said he is ready for a debate with opposition leaders. "The opposition has also said it is ready. Let any TV news channel organise a debate. I will participate whenever required. I welcome Kumaraswamy too," he said.
Clarifying his readiness for a public debate, Shivakumar added, "Let their party president, BJP’s B Y Vijayendra, come. I welcome Kumaraswamy as well. I have accepted the challenge. Whenever they schedule it, I am ready for a debate in the Assembly or on any TV channel. I need three days to adjust my schedule, but I don’t require preparation. I have MGNREGA details at my fingertips."
The Congress has demanded that the Centre scrap the new Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-GRAM) Act and restore the UPA-era MGNREGA scheme.
