Will continue as CM, present future budgets, asserts Siddaramaiah, "all the best", says DKS
Bengaluru (PTI): Amid the intense power struggle involving his deputy and state Congress chief D K Shivakumar, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday asserted that he would continue in office and also present state budgets in the future, prompting an "all the best" wish from the former.
The veteran leader's assertion came amidst the intense power struggle in the ruling Congress, with the Shivakumar camp mounting pressure on the party high command for a leadership change.
At least 15 MLAs and about a dozen MLCs have camped in New Delhi to push the party leadership to make Shivakumar the next CM, Congress sources said.
According to reports, the demand is based on a purported power-sharing agreement reached in 2023, under which Siddaramaiah was to serve as the CM for two and a half years (till November 2025) before making way for Shivakumar.
Responding to a query on some MLAs and MLCs camping in Delhi, the CM said the Congress high command has to decide on the leadership change, cabinet reshuffle or government restructuring.
"Has High Command spoken on it? We can’t help it. Earlier also some people were discussing it, and now they might have gone (to Delhi). Finally, Shivakumar and I have to listen to whatever the high command says," he added.
To a question whether he would present the next two state budgets, Siddaramaiah retorted, "Why are you asking this? Yes, I will continue. I will present the budgets in future also.”
Reacting to Siddaramaiah's assertion that he would complete his five years' term, Shivakumar wished him "all the best".
"The CM has said he will complete five years. I wish him all the best. We will all work together."
Shivakumar also said he did not believe in factionalism as he is president of all the 140 MLAs in the state.
Regarding some MLAs camping in Delhi, Shivakumar said that it was quite natural for those aspiring to become ministers to visit the national capital and hold meetings with leaders there.
According to him, no one has called the MLAs, but they are voluntarily going.
Shivakumar also paid a surprise visit to the Bengaluru Central Jail where he met the jailed Congress MLAs Vinay Kulkarni and K C Veerendra alias Puppy.
According to the information received, Shivakumar spoke to them for some time.
Kulkarni is in jail in connection with a murder case while Puppy is behind the bars in a money laundering case.
It was not known what Shivakumar discussed with the MLAs.
While those supporting Shivakumar are largely Vokkaligas, one of the dominant communities in Karnataka to which he belongs to, the 'AHINDA' MLAs too had a meeting on Thursday night, sources said.
AHINDA is a Kannada acronym for minorities, backward castes and Dalits.
Also, the Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi on Thursday hosted a dinner where the Ministers and MLAs met.
Though Jarkiholi and Home Minister G Parameshwara said it was just a regular meeting, Shivakumar said that their meeting was to have a new Congress president and to have four to five deputy Chief Ministers.
"All the meetings have been going on for the past two-and-half years. There is nothing new. Let them conduct more meetings," Shivakumar said.
With the squabbling in Congress coming out in open, AICC General Secretary in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala on Friday issued a stern warning to party MLAs and leaders against making any public statements on the issue of leadership.
"Had a discussion with Karnataka CM and Deputy CM and they agreed that a decisively defeated and faction ridden Karnataka BJP, along with a section of the media, are designedly running a maligning campaign against Karnataka and its Congress government," he alleged in a post on 'X'.
The Rajya Sabha MP noted that the "needless statements" of some Congress leaders and MLAs has also fuelled unnecessary speculation.
"INC has sternly warned them from making any public statements on the issue of leadership or falling for the agenda being propagated by the vested interests. The opinion of various party functionaries has been taken note of by the leadership," Surjewala added.
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Two wanted men held after shootout with police in Delhi's Dwarka
New Delhi (PTI): Two men accused in an attempt to murder case in southwest Delhi's Chhawla area were apprehended after a shootout, an official said on Sunday.
The accused, identified as Rocky (22) and Sumit alias Koki (24), were allegedly involved in an attempt to murder on April 17, he said.
According to police, the incident involved two assailants arriving on a motorcycle, with one of them allegedly attempting to fire at the complainant from close range. However, the weapon malfunctioned, and the duo fled the spot.
Acting on specific inputs, a police team intercepted the suspects near the Urban Extension Road (UER) at around 5.35 am when they were riding a motorcycle.
When asked to surrender, Rocky allegedly opened fire at the police team and discharged three rounds. One of the bullets struck the bulletproof vest of a head constable, narrowly missing him.
"The police team retaliated in controlled self-defence, firing three rounds and injuring Rocky below his left knee. He was subsequently overpowered after a brief scuffle," a senior police officer said.
Sumit alias Koki, who was riding the motorcycle, was also apprehended at the spot with a loaded weapon and a live cartridge, police added.
The injured accused was shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment. The police said further investigation is underway to ascertain the motive behind the attack and to identify any other persons involved in the conspiracy.
