Congress MLA CP Yogeshwar says many MLAs and voters want DK Shivakumar to be the CM of Karnataka. Claims support of over 100 MLAs.
Karnataka: Congress MLA CP Yogeshwar has said that the demand to make DK Shivakumar the Chief Minister is not just his, but also that of many MLAs and voters. This has once again intensified speculation about a leadership change in the state.
Demand to make DK Shivakumar CM intensifies again
Ever since the Congress party formed the government in Karnataka, the discussion has been raised from time to time whether the party will give permanent leadership to one of the two senior leaders—Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar. Now, the statement of Congress MLA CP Yogeshwar has once again fueled this debate. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, he said that this demand is not just his personal wish, but many MLAs and voters agree with the idea that the state should be led by DK Shivakumar.
CP Yogeshwar said, "We are not divided on this opinion. The people of our district and many MLAs of the state believe that DK Shivakumar should become the Chief Minister." He said that this demand is no longer just at the local level but has become a b sentiment within the party. Yogeshwar also claimed that more than 100 MLAs support DK Shivakumar. However, he clarified that the final decision will be taken by the central leadership of the Congress.
Support for Iqbal Hussain's statement
CP Yogeshwar also supported the recent statement of another Congress MLA, Iqbal Hussain, in which Hussain claimed that there is widespread support within the party to make DK Shivakumar the Chief Minister.
He said, "What Iqbal Hussain is saying is not just an opinion. It is a truth that many MLAs are feeling." Yogeshwar's statement gives further impetus to the possibility of a leadership change within the Congress.
Randeep Surjewala's response
Amidst these statements, senior Congress leader and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Surjewala arrived in Bengaluru. Talking to the media, he responded to this issue, saying, "Everyone can have their own wishes and ambitions. We have discussed this subject, but I don't want to say anything more."
Siddaramaiah vs. Shivakumar: An Old Dispute
There has been an internal tussle between Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar regarding the Chief Minister's post in the Karnataka Congress for a long time. Siddaramaiah is a senior leader of the state and a former Chief Minister, while DK Shivakumar is the state president of the party and an influential leader who is considered to have a b hold on the organization.
When the Congress won in the state in 2023, it was agreed that Siddaramaiah would be the Chief Minister in the first phase and later the responsibility of this post could be handed over to Shivakumar. But no formal announcement has been made in this direction so far.
