• Source:JND
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Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday broke his silence on the issue of Chief Minister replacement in Karnataka and asserted that there is no doubt that he will continue as the CM of the state for five years. "Why should there be a doubt," Siddaramaiah said, day after Congress top leadership rejected media reports stating that Karnataka is soon going to witness a leadership change.

Slamming the BJP and JD(S) for spreading rumours that the CM will be replaced, Siddaramaiah snapped back and said, "Are they our high command?".

"R Ashoka (Leader of Opposition in the Assembly) is a BJP man. BY Vijayendra (state BJP President) is a BJP man. Chalavadi Narayanaswamy (Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council) is a BJP man. Will you write if they say such things? Should you verify or not?" he asked.

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Alleging that the BJP of spreading lies about the stability of the government, Siddaramaiah said that the Congress party was united and the government would be in power "solid as a rock" for five years.

"No one believes in the BJP. They only lie. They are experts in lying. They don't know how to speak the truth. So, whether they believe it or not, we don't know. We are all together (in Congress). As I have said in Mysuru recently, we will be in power for five years. Our government will be as solid as a rock. BJP people are daydreaming," he said.

Responding to a question on ministerial aspirants in the Congress, the CM said the Congress high command will decide. "In a democracy, everyone has the right to become a CM. The high command (of Congress) will ultimately decide. There are about 140 people (legislators) in our party. Only 34 people can be made ministers. Can everybody be made minister?" he asked.

DK Shivakumar Says 'What Options Do I Have'

Reacting to Siddaramaiah's affirmation, DK Shivakumar, however, tried to put an end to the rumours, but said, "What options do I have? I have to stand by him and support him."

"I don't have any objection to it. Whatever the party high command tells and whatever they decide, it will be fulfilled. I don't want to discuss anything now. Lakhs of workers are supporting this party," DK Shivakumar said.

Shivakumar yesterday rejected the murmurs and said that there is no disgruntlement within the ruling Congress and "when Siddaramaiah is there as the CM, there is no need for any discord on the leadership issue."

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There was stiff competition between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar for the chief minister's post after the declaration of Assembly election results in May 2023, and the Congress had managed to convince the latter and made him the Deputy CM.

There were some reports at the time that a compromise had been reached based on a "rotational chief minister formula," according to which Shivakumar will become CM after two and a half years, but they have not been officially confirmed by the party.