Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday firmly dismissed claims of a two-and-a-half-year power-sharing arrangement, rejecting the speculation on the floor of the Legislative Assembly on the final day of the Belagavi session.
“I am the Chief Minister now, and I will continue until the high command decides otherwise,” Siddaramaiah said, asserting that he believes the Congress leadership stands firmly behind him.
Responding to questions raised by Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka regarding an alleged agreement to rotate the chief minister’s post after two-and-a-half years, Siddaramaiah refuted the whisper, saying that no such arrangement exists.
This was the second time within a week that the chief minister publicly stated during the Assembly session that he would remain in office unless directed otherwise by the party leadership. However, Friday marked the first occasion on which he directly addressed and denied the reported power-sharing formula.
Despite repeated denials, speculation over Karnataka’s leadership has continued to swirl during the Assembly session. Alongside heated exchanges between the ruling Congress and the Opposition inside the House, a series of dinner meetings involving legislators has further fuelled rumours.
On December 18, Siddaramaiah, along with several Ministers and MLAs, attended a dinner hosted by senior Minister Satish Jarkiholi in Belagavi. Jarkiholi is widely seen as a close aide of the chief minister. Ministers G Parameshwara, HC Mahadevappa, BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan, and MC Sudhakar, along with legislators AS Ponnanna and Naseer Ahmed, were among those present.
When asked about the meeting, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar downplayed its significance. “Can anyone say no to a dinner meeting? There is nothing wrong with dinner meetings. We have all come from outside,” he said.
When pointed out that only a handful of MLAs were present, Shivakumar responded to the media, “Why are you asking this question to me? I have nothing to do with it.”
Earlier, on December 16, Siddaramaiah had expressed confidence that the Congress would return to power in 2028 and accused the BJP of attempting to destabilise the government through speculation.
“There is a proverb that says, ‘Don’t throw salt on injury.’ The Opposition exists to throw salt,” he said, adding that no amount of provocation would unsettle Congress MLAs. “People have blessed me to be the chief minister for five years. We have 140 MLAs with us,” he asserted.
Emphasising the supremacy of the party leadership, Siddaramaiah said, “This is not my government, it is our government. I am still the chief minister. I will be the chief minister until the high command says so.”
He also took a swipe at the BJP, alleging a lack of consensus within the party over its leadership.
“The BJP is jealous. We will give a stable government for five years, and in 2028, the Congress government will come to power again,” he said.
Ahead of the Belagavi session, Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar held two rounds of breakfast meetings in an apparent effort to project unity within the party.
“Shivakumar and I are united, and there are no differences,” Siddaramaiah had told the media after the meetings.
At the time, when asked about the alleged power-sharing arrangement, the chief minister had said that both leaders would abide by any decision taken by the Congress high command, reiterating that the final word rests with the party leadership.
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