Not in hurry; party will decide: DK Shivakumar on leadership tussle
BENGALURU, Nov 28: Former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday said that the opposition BJP in the state may consider moving a no-confidence motion in the Assembly if the power tussle in the Congress continues.
The BJP leader also predicted that a ‘dark horse’ may enter the race in the wake of the fight for the CM post between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar.
The Haveri BJP MP said the Congress high command had proposed two to three formulas to resolve the impasse over the leadership issue.
“If the Congress party’s internal tussle for the posts of chief minister and deputy chief minister continues like this, there are chances of political turmoil in the State. Though senior Congress leaders at the Centre have proposed two to three formulas to resolve the issue and neither of the leaders has agreed to any. There is information that a new formula is being prepared by keeping both of them aside. There is a possibility of a dark horse entering the race,” Bommai told reporters here in Haveri.
The MP said the tug-of-war within the Congress for the top post has intensified, and the Congress high command is helpless.
“The administration in the state has completely collapsed. Farmers in the State are in distress, and development works have come to a standstill. Both leaders have taken this as a matter of prestige. If this same situation continues, there is a possibility of political instability in the State,” he noted.
According to him, anything can happen in State politics.
“A horse that is not visible now may appear. The horse that is seen in the photograph will not run. Anything can happen in the State,” he remarked.
When asked whether the BJP would move a no-confidence motion against the state government during the Belagavi session of the legislature, he said, “There is time till December 8. If such a situation arises, the occasion to move a no-confidence motion may come”.
DKS REACTS
In the midst of an intense power tussle with Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, his deputy D K Shivakumar on Friday said he “does not want anything and is not in a hurry.” The Congress state president replied in the affirmative when asked if he would go to Delhi and meet the party high command, saying “Delhi is our temple.” “I don’t want anything. I am not in a hurry. My party will take a decision,” he told reporters on the sidelines of a function marking the golden jubilee of the Anganwadi programme, where he shared the stage with the CM.
He said he may travel to the national capital in view of the Parliament’s winter session starting December 1. Political circles are abuzz over the Congress high command summoning the CM and his deputy to resolve the leadership tussle that has gained steam in the wake of the party government completing its half way mark recently.
On his visit to the national capital, he said, “I may go to Delhi.” “I have a lot of work there. The parliament session is approaching. I have to meet all Karnataka MPs because they need to take up some of our projects,” he said.
Shivakumar noted that the Supreme Court had given justice to Karnataka in the Mekedatu balancing reservoir issue, and he plans to discuss the matter with the state’s MPs.He added that he and the chief minister are convening an all-party meeting to discuss a wide range of issues, including Mekedatu and the maize price crash.
Asked whether he would meet the party high command, Shivakumar said he would. (PTI)
