Davangere (Karnataka), Sep 11: Senior Congress MLA Shamanuru Shivashankarappa on Wednesday said he will also be in the contest for the Chief Minister post if the legislators support him, in the event of leadership change in Karnataka.
The 93-year-old, however, said the incumbent CM Siddaramaiah is running a good administration and added: "let him continue until he has the blessings of the high command."
"There is no question of senior or junior in politics. Whomever majority of the elected legislators support, high command says yes to them, that's the practice. If the situation comes, I will also contest, I won't leave," Shivashankarappa told reporters.
His son, S S Mallikarjun, is a Minister in the Siddaramaiah Cabinet, while daughter-in-law Prabha Mallikarjun is Davangere MP.
"I said, I will, the legislators should first accept and support me," he said when asked if he is in the race being the senior-most MLA.
ALSO READ: CM post not vacant, no doubt that I will continue in the position, asserts Siddaramaiah
Shivashankarappa joined the list of party leaders weighing in for the Chief Minister's post in the event of leadership change in Karnataka, while maintaining that the incumbent will continue in the position.
As Siddaramaiah's petition challenging the Governor's sanction for his prosecution in a site allotment case is being heard in the High Court, some Congress leaders seem to be preparing for a race to become CM, in case of leadership change.
Making it clear that the Chief Minister post in the state is not vacant for anyone to weigh in to occupy it now, Siddaramaiah on Wednesday asserted that there are no doubts in this regard and he will continue in the position.
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Bengaluru: A life convict lodged in Ballari Central Prison has successfully cleared the second PUC examination.
Ashok Kumar S, who appeared for the examination under prison escort, secured 481 marks out of 600, registering 80.1 percent.
Director General of Police (Prisons and Correctional Services), Alok Kumar (IPS), shared the development on his official ‘X’ handle, commending the inmate’s achievement.
In his post, he stated that it was heartening to see a life convict score over 80 percent in the examination, adding that the inmate had appeared from Ballari Central Prison under escort.
It’s heartening to see that one of our life convict prisoners Ashok has obtained 80.1% marks in PUC exam. He appeared under Prison escort from Ballari Central Prison for his exams.
— alok kumar (@alokkumar6994) April 9, 2026
Glad to see that Walls of the prison has not subdued his hopes for a better future. pic.twitter.com/Nzlcy076SR
He further noted that the achievement reflected that the “walls of the prison have not subdued his hopes for a better future.”
Alok Kumar in his post also shared the result sheet of Ashok.
The Karnataka School Examination and Assessment Board (KSEAB) declared the second PUC results for 2026 on April 9.
A total of 6,32,200 students appeared for the examination across all streams, of whom 5,46,698 passed, recording an overall pass percentage of 86.48 per cent.
