A day after Congress MLA Iqbal Hussain fuelled speculations about a change of guard in Karnataka, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar presented a united front in Mysuru Monday, ruling out a “revolution” in the government in the next two months.
“This government will be secure as a bande (boulder) for five years,” the chief minister told reporters, before raising Shivakumar’s hand in front of TV cameras. Bande, incidentally, is a moniker for Shivakumar, who is referred to as ‘Kanakapurada Bande’ – Kanakapura being the constituency he represents.
The gesture came amid renewed speculations of Shivakumar replacing him in the top post. Responding to questions in this regard, Siddaramaiah said, “BJP leaders are experts in telling lies. He and I are on good terms.”
The two leaders were in Mysuru to offer “Bagina” to the Krishnarajasagar (KRS) reservoir, located near Srirangapatna in Mandya district. The Bagina ritual involves offering a saree, flowers, fruits, bangles, turmeric-vermilion (arishina-kumkuma), and rice placed on a bamboo tray.
As per a purported ‘seat-sharing’ formula, under which Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar were to hold power for two and a half years each, the former is supposed to step down this year. There has, however, never been any official confirmation on this.
On Sunday, MLA Hussain had triggered speculations with his reaction to claims made by Cooperation Minister K N Rajanna last week that a “revolution” would take place in Karnataka politics after September. Though Rajanna clarified later that he was referring to changes in all parties after September, Hussain said that it was in reference to the leadership transition in the Karnataka Congress government.
“I am confident that the (Congress) high command will take the right decision at the right time and give him (Shivakumar) an opportunity…. The ‘revolution’ they are talking about is the same thing. Everything will be decided in two to three months,” he said.
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Speaking to reporters in Mangaluru on Monday, Health and Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao objected to Rajanna’s comment and the subsequent remarks by Hussain. “The use of words such as ‘revolution’ is not right. In the same way, such statements (by the MLA) only cause unnecessary confusion. This is neither good for our government, nor the party,” he said.