Political Tensions Rise in Karnataka
Bengaluru: The ongoing rivalry between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar escalated into a verbal clash on Thursday, centering around the commitment to uphold promises made to the electorate.
As the power struggle intensifies, Shivakumar emphasized that ‘word power is world power,’ to which Siddaramaiah retorted, stating, ‘A word holds no power unless it improves the lives of the people.’
Siddaramaiah is determined to serve a full five-year term, while Shivakumar is eager to ascend to the chief ministerial position as the Congress government approaches the halfway mark of its term on November 20.
In a post on social media platform ‘X’, the Chief Minister asserted, ‘The mandate from the people of Karnataka is not a fleeting moment but a responsibility that spans five full years.’
Shivakumar echoed this sentiment on Thursday, declaring, ‘Keeping one’s word is the greatest strength in the world! Word power is world power.
He further stated, ‘The most significant force in the world is the ability to keep one’s word.’
His cryptic message is perceived as a reminder to both the Congress party and Siddaramaiah regarding a rumored power-sharing agreement from 2023, when both leaders sought the chief minister’s role following the party’s electoral victory.
In his own post, Siddaramaiah highlighted his achievements through five guarantee schemes—Shakti, Gruha Lakshmi, Yuva Nidhi, Anna Bhagya, and Gruha Jyoti—which aim to provide free electricity, financial assistance to women heads of households, and complimentary bus rides for women.
He noted that during his previous term from 2013 to 2018, he fulfilled 157 out of 165 promises, achieving over 95% success.
Currently, he has completed over 243 out of 593 commitments, assuring that ‘every remaining promise will be fulfilled with dedication, credibility, and care.’
‘The mandate given by the people of Karnataka is not a moment, but a responsibility that lasts five full years. The Congress party, including myself, is committed to serving our people with compassion, consistency, and courage. Our promise to Karnataka is not just a slogan; it holds immense significance for us,’ Siddaramaiah stated.
Following the Assembly election results announced on May 20, 2023, there was fierce competition between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar for the chief minister’s role. Ultimately, the Congress party persuaded Shivakumar to accept the Deputy CM position.
Reports suggested a compromise based on a ‘rotational chief minister formula,’ which would allow Shivakumar to take over after 2.5 years, but these claims have not been officially confirmed by the party.
Siddaramaiah has firmly dismissed these reports, asserting his intention to serve a full five years as chief minister.
Supporters of Shivakumar have been traveling to Delhi to advocate for their leader’s promotion to chief minister ‘as previously agreed,’ according to sources within the Congress.
