Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar took a moment to offer public congratulations to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who made history on Tuesday by equaling D Devaraj Urs as the state's longest-serving Chief Minister. Speaking to reporters at Vidhana Soudha, Shivakumar described the milestone as a "very happy development" for the entire party, noting that Siddaramaiah has firmly secured his place in the history books.
The timing of the achievement comes amid persistent rumors of a leadership transition, but Shivakumar was quick to shut down any baiting questions about his own ambitions. When asked if the CM’s record-breaking tenure would "smoothen his path" to the top job, the Vokkaliga strongman grew defensive, telling reporters not to put words in his mouth. "I have come this far from a village background. What more do I need?" he, further, added. He also gave a wry response to his brother DK Suresh’s recent comment that "good days are coming," simply stating that for him, every day is a good day.
The Deputy CM also used the interaction to settle some political scores, particularly with Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy. After Kumaraswamy sarcastically referred to him as a "great Deputy CM", Shivakumar laughed it off, saying he was happy for the affection, whether it was sincere or not. However, he didn't hold back on Kumaraswamy’s political style, labeling him a "media-only politician" who lacks seriousness.
Turning his attention to the recent violence in Ballari that left a Congress worker dead, Shivakumar expressed deep sadness over the tragedy. He defended himself against allegations from Janardhana Reddy that he supports "criminal legislators," pointing out that many top politicians, including himself, have FIRs against them. "Until a court delivers a verdict, a person is only an accused," he said, suggesting Reddy should check his own "history book" before pointing fingers.
Beyond the local political firestorms, Shivakumar confirmed he is organising a "Save MGNREGA" protest on January 8 following directions from the AICC. He also mentioned a brief diplomatic meeting with Jagdeep Singh, the Deputy CM of Penang, Malaysia, who is in Bengaluru to discuss educational collaborations with local universities.
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