BENGALURU: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah may try to reshuffle his cabinet anytime now to thwart Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar’s attempts to stake claim to the chief minister’s post, but the latter, who is also KPCC president, could have his own game plan up his sleeve and remind the party that he is key to its success in the coming Assembly elections in Bihar in November and Kerala in April.
Shivakumar is known to be a good organiser, especially during elections, and his full cooperation will be crucial for the party in the two Assembly polls. Then, there are elections to the five corporations in the Greater Bengaluru Authority and zilla and taluk panchayats across the state, where too he will be the guiding force for the party.
Shivakumar has been reminding party national general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal about the “secret” agreement arrived at soon after the party won the Assembly election in 2023, where Siddaramaiah is expected to rule the state for the first half of the five-year tenure of the party and the rest by Shivakumar, party sources said.
He met Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra a month ago as she was also reportedly party to the agreement that is at the centre of the power struggle between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, they added.
A few months ago, Siddaramaiah had taken some Congress leaders and legislators into confidence, playing on their desire to become ministers. The sources said these MLAs will want him to continue as CM if they are likely to get cabinet berths. Senior MLA from Bangarpet SN Narayanaswamy told reporters on Thursday that he is a strong contender for a ministerial post.
This has come as a setback for Shivakumar, but his camp is likely to make its voice heard after the Bihar polls. “Shivakumar could be given some key tasks during the Bihar polls and also Kerala elections. His contribution to the party is likely to pay off. It would make him stronger to stake a claim for the top post,” said a Congress source.
Interestingly, former minister and Siddaramaiah’s close associate KR Ramesh Kumar’s son Harsha Kanadam has been appointed Congress war room chief in Kerala. He is being touted as Shivakumar’s protege.
Siddaramaiah seems not done yet, as he has plans to reach many milestones, including breaking the record of former CM, the late Devaraj Urs as the longest-serving CM in January and is planning to present the budget in March/April. But Shivakumar is not likely to rest, and will continue to exert pressure on the high command.
