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Karnataka News: At dinner we discuss party matters. Apart from this, there has been no discussion on change of leadership or any other political matter.
Karnataka News: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday rejected speculations of a ‘November revolution’ in the state’s politics. Said that there is no demand for change of leadership. He reiterated that the dinner organized for his cabinet colleagues on Monday had nothing to do with the leadership change or politics. The meeting assumes significance amid speculations of leadership change and cabinet reshuffle in the state, when the Congress government will reach the halfway point of its five-year term in November. Some people are calling this ‘November Revolution’. Some people interpret the ‘November Revolution’ as a change of Chief Minister. Responding to a question from journalists on speculations about change of leadership and the dinner organized for cabinet colleagues, Siddaramaiah said that there is no connection between the dinner and politics. I organize such dinners regularly. We keep meeting for dinner and will continue to do so in future also. We discuss party matters. Apart from this, there has been no discussion on change of leadership or any other political matter.
Will complete full tenure of five years
When asked about the silence of the high command on the speculations, he said that the top leadership is currently focusing on Bihar elections. He said let’s see what they say later. Whatever the high command says, we will follow it. Responding to a question related to the talk of “November Revolution”, he said that there is no revolution, there is no misconception. When asked about the demand for change of leadership and the need for approval from the high command and MLAs for this, he said that there is no such demand. There is unnecessary speculation. There has been speculation for some time in the political circles of the state, especially in the ruling Congress, about the change of Chief Minister by the end of this year. In this, reference is being made to the power-sharing agreement between Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister and Karnataka Congress President DK Shivakumar. Amidst discussions about change of Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah has been continuously reiterating that he will complete the full five-year term.
Party MLAs have majority
Siddaramaiah said on Monday that no one can become Chief Minister without the majority of party MLAs and the blessings of the Congress high command. He was replying to a question on Shivakumar’s alleged statement in which he had said that leadership change in the state can happen on the basis of the decision of the high command and not merely on the basis of the support of the number of MLAs. This reply of Siddaramaiah is being seen as a claim that he still has the support of a large number of Congress MLAs. After the victory of Congress in the 2023 assembly elections, there was a tough competition for the post of Chief Minister between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar and the party was successful in convincing Shivakumar. He was made Deputy Chief Minister. There were some reports at that time that an agreement had been reached on the basis of “rotational chief ministerial formula”, according to which Shivkumar would become the chief minister after two and a half years, but this has not been officially confirmed by the party.
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