DK Shivakumar said that he is not worried about who will be the candidate in the party.
New Delhi:
Amid rising speculation over the chief ministerial claim between top Congress Karnataka leaders Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar in the event that the big old party forms the next government, the latter today said they are not worried about who is in the party. Is. Will be a candidate, but wants to work hard first for the party to come to power in the state. However, he also pointed out that he, as the head of the party in the state, put the party in a competitive position.
Speaking to NDTV, he denied any rift with his party colleague. “There is no question of a split house” and the Congress party is united in Karnataka, he said.
“It is a complete lie. First, it is our duty to topple this BJP government and let us come to power. Then my party high command will decide who to lead,” he said.
Last month, Mr. Shivakumar, an influential leader of the Vokkaliga community, expressed his desire to be the next chief minister, adding to the tension.
Clarifying his remarks that there should be a chief minister from the Vokkaliga community in the state, he said he had appealed to his community to “bless him” as the state party chief so that the Congress comes to power.
Siddaramaiah had a five-year stint as chief minister before the Congress was forced to forge an alliance with Janata Dal (Secular) chief HD Kumaraswamy in 2018 to keep the BJP out of power. Mr Shivakumar had by then carved a niche for himself as the party’s troubleshooter and was eventually made the state Congress chief.
Mr Shivakumar said there were many other leaders in the state besides him, and all would have to work together against the “most corrupt government of Karnataka ever”.
Asked whether hiring professionals to manage his campaign is an attempt to gain an edge over Siddaramaiah, Mr Shivakumar said all political parties hire experts for “technical assistance”.
He said that the new generation is looking towards the digital medium and professionals give good advice to reach more and more people.