Bengaluru: Even as Karnataka Congress was cooling its heels over power-sharing nightmare in the recent past, it has gripped the party once again after Minister HC Mahadevappa denied of its existence.
The issue came to light in its new avatar after Mahadevappa and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar’s brother and Lok Sabha member DK Suresh locked horns over the issue.
After Mahadeavappa claimed that Siddaramaiah will continue as chief minister in Mysuru, Suresh on Sunday accused Mahadevappa for not concentrating on his work pertaining to his department.
Suresh said, “I do not know why Mahadevappa made such a statement. He is a senior and matured leader, and has his own ideologies. I think he is more keen on speaking on other things than focusing on his role as a minister.”
He however asked the journalists to question Siddaramaiah and Mahadevappa on the issue after they queried him further.
At Davanagere, KPCC Working President and Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi jumped into the fray stating that there is no power-sharing formula agreed upon between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar.
Jarkiholi said, “Siddaramaiah will continue as the chief minister, and there is no discussion on power sharing. It also is the party’s decision.”
However, Siddaramaiah feigned ignorance on the development and asked the media to pose the question to Mahadevappa.
Earlier too Shivakumar’s aides had expressed their ire over Minister MB Patil’s rhetoric over power-sharing agreement last month.
Party insiders claim that the issue would be taken up in the meeting convened in Delhi on June 21.
Karnataka ministers have been invited for the meeting with senior Congress leaders.
In all likelihood, the high command would ask the ministers to desist from making any comments on power-sharing agreement, and focus on governance and fulfilling the promise of implementing 5 Guarantees.
Meanwhile, former deputy chief minister and BJP leader R Ashoka teased Shivakumar, saying that he would not become chief minister as Siddaramaiah is a very shrewd politician. “Shivakumar’s dream of becoming CM will remain a dream,” he said.
“Siddaramaiah has handled HD Deve Gowda and HD Kumaraswamy.He will not give up CM’s seat. He will continue as the CM for five years. Both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar will take the fight to the streets like the way it is unfolding in Rajasthan,” he said.
