Tag: Shivakumar

Shivakumar

No Differences With Siddaramaiah: Shivakumar

By LokMarg

Amid speculations over the chief ministerial face in Karnataka after Congress’ emphatic victory in the Assembly polls, state party president DK Shivakumar on Sunday said that he has no differences with Siddaramaiah, who is being seen as a front-runner for the position of the top post.

“Some people said that I have differences with Siddaramaiah. There are no differences between us,” said DK Shivkumar while addressing a press conference in Tumkur on Sunday.
The Karnataka Congress chief’s remarks came hours after posters were put up by the respective supporters of both leaders referring to them as the “next CM” of Karnataka.

“Many times I have sacrificed for the party. I sacrificed and helped and stood with Siddaramaiah. Wasn’t I patient when I was not made a minister in the beginning? I have given cooperation to Siddaramaiah,” he said.

Congress, which registered an emphatic victory defeating BJP in Karnataka on Saturday, now faces the challenge of deciding the chief minister amid the speculations of Siddaramaiah being the front-runner followed by state party president DK Shivakumar.

Aiming to decide on the matter, Karnataka Congress leaders including the party president and newly elected MLAs of the party will hold a Congress Legislature Party meeting today in Bengaluru.

According to sources, the leaders will pass a resolution authorising the party’s high command to decide on the CM face and the Deputy CM face.

“Siddaramaiah is the first front-runner for the CM Post, so the Congress high command is in favour of making him the chief minister,” sources said.

They further said that the party’s leadership has offered him the post of the Deputy CM, acknowledging his hard work.

“Shivakumar has also been offered an important ministry,” sources said.

After emerging victorious in the Karnataka polls which the party described as a “stepping stone to the Lok Sabha polls”, Congress wants to project Siddaramaiah who belongs to OBC Kurba Samaj as the Chief Minister’s post, sources said.

DK Shivakumar defeated JDS candidate B Nagaraju in the Kanakapura constituency by 1,22,392 votes while Siddaramaiah won the Varuna assembly seat defeating Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) V Somanna.

According to the Election Commission of India, Congress won 135 seats pushing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) out of power in the only southern state it ruled and boosting its own prospects for the electoral battles ahead. BJP managed to win 66 seats.

Janata Dal-Secular (JDS) bagged 19 seats. Independents have won two seats while Kalyana Rajya Pragathi Paksha and Sarvodaya Karnataka Paksha won one seat each. (ANI)

Read More: lokmarg.com

Shivakumar

Shivakumar Breaks Down, Thanks Sonia

By LokMarg

An emotional Karnataka Congress president D K Shivakumar broke down on Saturday as his party looked poised towards forming the next government in the State. He also recalled his stint in jail in 2019.

Shivakumar thanked the party cadre and workers for the results.
“I can’t forget Sonia Gandhi visiting me in jail…when BJP people put me in jail,” Shivakumar who was almost choking with emotion said.

Speaking to reporters, the Karnataka Congress Pradesh Committee (KPCC) chief said, “I credit my cadre and all my party leaders, they worked hard. People have lent faith in us, they supported us. It is a collective leadership and we jointly worked. I said in the beginning, joining the party is beginning…the day I took the oath, thinking together is progress, and working together is success”.

Shivakumar recalled his time in jail in the year 2019 for over 50 days in ED custody in connection with an alleged money laundering case.

“I had promised Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi and party president Mallikarjun Kharge that I will deliver the state to their fold. When these BJP people put me in jail, I remember Sonia Gandhi came to meet me there. Such is the faith the party, the Gandhi family and the whole country bestowed on me,” he said.

Shivakumar said that he will again address the media and party workers after some time.

“I thank all the MLAs in the state, including Siddaramaiah. Every leader who worked from block to the booth level, including my AICC leaders and general secretaries. I have a lot of things to tell, but I will come later and meet you all at Bharat Jodo Bhavan,” the senior Congress leader said.

Meanwhile, the Congress party has consolidated its lead in the counting for the assembly elections with victory on two seats and leading on 128 others, as per the Election Commission of India.

Shivakumar was also leading on the Kanakpura constituency with a massive margin of over 64000 votes.

The counting of votes began at 8 am amid tight security across the State.

The exit polls predicted a hung assembly with some showing Congress returning to power with a majority. A few exit polls also showed BJP ahead.

The fiercely contested election that saw high-pitch campaigns from the political parties.

The polling for the seats were held on May 10 with a voting percentage of 72. 68 per cent in voting for 224 seats. A party needs 113 seats to get majority. (ANI)

Read More: lokmarg.com