We adhere to Kharge's guidance and value opposition's remarks: DK Shivakumar
Bengaluru, Mar 9 (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Sunday said that the party adheres to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's guidance and values opposition's comments.
Amid the power tussle in the Congress, Kharge on Saturday urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar to work together and prioritise the state's development.
In a statement that is seen as a subtle message to give up their power struggle, Kharge at Jewargi in his home district Kalaburagi, said in a public meeting, "If they (Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah) go together in the same direction, it will be correct. If they go in different directions, it will be difficult."
Shivakumar, who was sharing stage with Kharge, kept smiling as the latter made the observation.
Reacting to Kharge's remark, Shivakumar told reporters in Ramanagara, "I was there on the stage. We will listen to him (Kharge) and go by his guidance."
In the same breath he said, "Our opposition party also guides us. We heed to them too. They comment so much on us but we never feel bad about it. We will do whatever is to be done for the public good."
When reporters reminded him of going together with Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar, who is also the Congress state president, said, "I have understood what he has said."
State Home Minister G Parameshwara said he has no clue as to why the party national president made the comment.
"I don't know in what context he said so. We all are united only. We are working in unison. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, ministers and the entire government is working for the people only," Parameshwara told reporters here.
The comment gave the BJP an opportunity to highlight the squabbling in the ruling Congress.
Speaking to reporters in Hubballi, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said Kharge's call to Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar to go together means that they are not united.
"Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has accepted that they are not together and all is not well in the Congress. Their situation can now be understood very clearly," Joshi said.
He also said that Siddaramaiah's son Yathindra has said he was confident that his father would read the 19th budget of the state. On the other hand, Shivakumar's supporters say he would present the next budget, Joshi said.
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21 Congress MLAs leave for foreign tour ahead of budget; leaders say trip is personal
Bengaluru (PTI): At least 21 Congress legislators in Karnataka left for a foreign tour ahead of the state budget on Wednesday, as a power tussle continues within the ruling party.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is set to present a record 17th budget on March 6, soon after the legislative session begins. The session will continue until March 27.
It is learnt that the MLAs travelling abroad are considered loyal to the CM.
According to Congress sources, 11 MLAs flew out on Tuesday, while 10 others are scheduled to leave for various foreign destinations with their families.
Sources said C Puttaranga Shetty, B Devendrappa, H D Thammaiah, Hampanagouda Badarli, B M Nagaraj, A Vasanth Kumar, D Thimmaiah and Sharanagouda Patil Bayyapur are among those travelling abroad.
The legislators are touring Australia and New Zealand. They will first fly to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and then continue their journey to Australia and New Zealand, sources added.
The MLAs clarified that the trip is personal and has nothing to do with the party or the government.
"We are going on a private tour. It’s just my family and me," Thammaiah told reporters at the Kempegowda International Airport here.
The Chikkamagaluru MLA said the decision had been taken during the Belagavi legislative session.
"Those interested in the tour are travelling. We often go abroad, but this is the first time it has made news," Thammaiah said.
Badarli sought to clarify that all the MLAs were funding the tour themselves and that it had nothing to do with politics.
"We travel abroad two or three times. Earlier, we visited Muscat, European countries and the United States," he said.
Puttaranga Shetty said the MLAs would return on March 2 or 3.
Responding to suggestions that those travelling belonged to Siddaramaiah’s camp, Shetty said, "The CM is not aware of our trip. Why drag his name into this unnecessarily?"
MLAs considered close to Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said there was nothing unusual about "common friends travelling abroad together."
"We too have travelled abroad. What is wrong with that? I was not invited. Our team is different from theirs, but it is not factionalism," MLA H C Balakrishna said.
MLA Ravi Ganiga said no one could remove the incumbent or change the government merely because of a foreign tour, adding that the Congress high command takes appropriate decisions at the right time.
