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Following Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's statement that he would fulfil his five years' term, his deputy DK Shivakumar on Friday said the CM has responded to all the questions regarding it. "The Chief Minister has already replied to all your questions. It is not proper for me to keep on repeating the same, and it is not proper for you to keep repeating," Shivakumar said at the Bengaluru airport, on his return from New Delhi.

 

Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar had visited the national capital to meet the Congress high command a few days ago.

 

"Why are you (referring to journalists) freaking out about our internal issues when we are not?" Shivakumar joked, dispelling rumors that the negotiations were regarding a power-sharing agreement.

 

After the Congress' win in the Assembly elections in May 2023, intense competition had been there between Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah for Chief Minister's position. There were reports then that they had a rotational CM pact, with Shivakumar becoming the CM after two-and-a-half years, November 2025. But the party never denied or endorsed such a deal.

 

Queried regarding increasing popularity for him in the party to become CM, Shivakumar replied, "Leave it. Many of you too have dreams." He refused to comment on more queries on leadership change. "I'm not going to respond to any of your questions now," he said, mentioning that there were no political talks during the Delhi trip.

 

"We discussed appointments of party workers as chairpersons and members of boards and corporations. Since all MLAs have submitted their opinions, we’re now in the final stages. One more round of discussions with the high command will help finalise the names," he said.

 

Also read: DK Shivakumar meets Priyanka Gandhi in Delhi

 

On Thursday, Siddaramaiah told reporters in Delhi that there was "no vacancy" for the top post when asked about speculation over a leadership change in Karnataka. "Is there any vacancy for the post of chief ministership? I am fully present in front of you. I am the Chief Minister of Karnataka. That is what Shivakumar has stated, and I am stating it too. There is no vacancy," he further said.

 

He further noted that the Congress general secretary for Karnataka, Randeep Singh Surjewala, had outrightly rejected any leadership shift, and that Shivakumar had reiterated the same.