Bengaluru: Days after the oath-taking ceremony in Karnataka, tension seems to be simmering between the Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar camps after the Chief Minister’s loyalist and cabinet minister MB Patil claimed that Siddaramaiah will be the Chief Minister for a full term of five years.
Patil, however, clarified Tuesday that he has not made any personal comments over the issue. “I have reiterated what senior leaders announced in the press conference,” he said.
Patil Monday night claimed that Siddaramaiah will complete the tenure of five years. “There are no talks about power sharing and Siddaramaiah will be the CM for the next five years,” he said stirring a controversy.
The Congress high command is also maintaining silence over the issue. But, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar’s camp maintains that the 30:30 power-sharing formula was agreed upon between Siddaramaiah. According to the formula, both will become Chief Ministers for 30 months each.
Though the power-sharing formula is being discussed widely, the official announcement has not yet come.
Last week when Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was asked about the power-sharing formula, he posed a counter question to the reporters, saying “From where do they get the confirmation?
MB Patil Tuesday stated, “I won’t repeat my words again and again. Yesterday (Monday) the media asked whether Siddaramaiah will be changed from the post of CM. Our leaders had announced that Siddaramaiah is the CM and Shivakumar is Deputy CM. I have repeated what AICC Secretary KC Venugopal had told in the press conference.”
“I have not given any opinion personally. I don’t have any statement to make in this regard,” he reiterated.
Sources explained that there is a cold war going on between MB Patil, the blue-eyed boy of Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar. Patil, hailing from Lingayat community was an aspirant for the post of deputy Chief Minister.
After noticing MB Patil talking to Siddaramaiah Sunday while delivering a speech at the Congress headquarters, Shivakumar had openly asked MB Patil not to disturb.
Shivakumar is yet to react to Patil’s statement on sharing Chief Minister’s post.
IANS