Bengaluru: Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has emerged as the frontrunner in the race for the Chief Minister’s post within the Congress, Karnataka BJP chief Vijayendra Yediyurappa claimed on Saturday, signaling growing internal strife in the ruling party.
“The list of Chief Minister post aspirants is expanding, and Shivakumar is leading the race,” Vijayendra stated, pointing to the increasing competition for the top post.
Addressing the media in here, Vijayendra suggested that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s grip on power is weakening, urging him to resign.
He cited Shivakumar’s recent prayers and rituals, performed just a day before the Chief Minister inaugurated the ambitious Yettinahole project, as a clear sign of the ongoing power struggle. “This suggests that Siddaramaiah’s hold on the position is not strong,” he added.
Vijayendra further accused the Congress of being unable to accept the potential change in leadership, highlighting the challenges faced by Siddaramaiah and his ministers. “The Congress is finding it difficult to accept the change,” he remarked, while also criticising the government’s alleged “threats,” “intimidation tactics,” and “conspiracies” against the BJP.
He asserted that the BJP is fully prepared to counter the government’s allegations, labeling them as baseless.
The BJP has recently intensified its protests against the state government, spotlighting alleged irregularities in cases like the Welfare Development Corporation and the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA), in a bid to expose what it claims are failures of the Congress-led administration.
Speaking on the Yettinahole project, Vijayendra acknowledged the significance of the initiative, which aims to supply water to Chikkaballapur, Kolar, and Tumkuru, but raised questions about the escalating costs.
“The initial project cost was estimated at around Rs 8,500 crore, but it has now risen to between Rs 20,000 and Rs 22,500 crore. Although it is encouraging that the project has been launched, there remains a question about whether its original purpose will be fulfilled,” he said.
The BJP’s remarks come amid mounting political tension in Karnataka as the opposition party continues to challenge the Congress government’s decisions and leadership, setting the stage for a potential power shift within the ruling party
