Bengaluru, February 24. Amid swirling rumors of a leadership shake-up in Karnataka’s Congress party, Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress president DK Shivakumar made it clear on Tuesday that keeping ministers and MLAs in check is squarely the Chief Minister’s responsibility.
Speaking to reporters outside his residence in Bengaluru, Shivakumar addressed the ongoing buzz around leadership changes and demands for a Dalit Chief Minister. ‘It’s the CM’s job to control ministers and legislators,’ he asserted. ‘As party president, I keep the high command informed about party matters.’
He revealed regular conversations with senior Congress leader and Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi, seen as a key supporter of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. ‘Jarkiholi is a senior leader who worked with me as working president. We talk weekly, share the same ideology, and are strategizing to bring the party back to power stronger.’
On Social Welfare Minister HC Mahadevappa’s call for a Dalit CM if the top post becomes vacant, Shivakumar took a sharp dig. ‘I’ve seen his statement. Maybe he has inside info on changes since he’s close to the high command. I have no such information.’
Dismissing speculation of being summoned to Delhi with Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar said no such call had come, though he plans a trip for departmental work. He highlighted allocating Rs 1 lakh crore for urban development schemes, focusing on proposals for tier-2 and tier-3 cities.
Responding to MLAs’ letters demanding fresh faces in the cabinet, he endorsed the idea. ‘Everyone aspires to be a minister. New generation and ideas deserve chances. I’ve been a minister for 36 years—how long can we cling on? The final call rests with the party, but cabinet expansion is the CM’s prerogative.’
Shivakumar’s remarks underscore internal Congress dynamics in Karnataka, where factional tensions simmer beneath the surface of governance achievements. As the state eyes upcoming electoral battles, his emphasis on discipline and renewal signals a push for unity amid speculation.