BELAGAVI: For the first time, the simmering Congress leadership tussle spilt onto the floor of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah acknowledged on Monday that the party high command will take the final call on his continuation, even as he firmly asserted that the Congress government will complete its full five-year term.
The politically charged exchange unfolded during Question Hour when Leader of the Opposition R. Ashok directly asked whether Siddaramaiah would remain Chief Minister till the end of the term amid growing speculation over the CM’s chair.
As the debate intensified, Siddaramaiah urged the opposition “not to add fuel to the fire,” prompting Ashok to retort that if a fire had indeed broken out within the Congress, the House deserved to know whether Siddaramaiah would continue as Chief Minister.
Hitting back, Siddaramaiah said he would serve the full term, underlining that the Congress had received a clear people’s mandate, unlike the BJP, which he accused of earlier coming to power through “Operation Lotus.”
He also dismissed BJP charges of Congress seeking JD(S) support in the past, stating it was the JD(S) that had approached Congress, not the other way around.
Later, offering a clarification, the Chief Minister said that while his position ultimately rests with the Congress high command, he was confident of completing five years and leading the party back to power in the next Assembly elections.
The House then returned to official business, with Siddaramaiah replying to a question by Congress MLA Dr H.D. Ranganath (Kunigal) on grants to Primary Agricultural Credit Cooperative Societies (PACS).
The CM said Rs 90,000 had been released to PACS in Kunigal taluk over the past three years under schemes aimed at strengthening cooperatives and promoting SC, ST and women membership.
However, Dr Ranganath expressed dissatisfaction, pointing to lower allocations for Kunigal compared to Madhugiri. Siddaramaiah attributed the variation to differences in the SC/ST population between the taluks and assured the House that the disparity would be addressed soon.
The episode marked a rare moment where internal Congress power dynamics were openly debated in the Assembly, underscoring the growing political heat within the ruling party even as the Chief Minister sought to project stability and confidence.