Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has sparked fresh debate over his potential to become the Chief Minister of Karnataka, stating that time will decide his fate. This comes as he celebrates his 65th birthday amidst growing demands for him to take over the top role.
Shivakumar's comments follow a tense political tussle in the state, with his supporters calling for current Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to step down. Expectations are high for the pair to be summoned to Delhi by the Congress leadership amid talks of a cabinet reshuffle.
The Karnataka Congress's conflict began when Siddaramaiah took over as head of the state government in 2023, under a power-sharing agreement with Shivakumar. However, despite entering its third year, there is no sign of Siddaramaiah conceding the seat to Shivakumar, enraging the latter's supporters and prompting them to stage demonstrations.
Home Minister G Parameshwara has weighed in on the situation, stating that the party's high command will decide on the matter. Senior Congress MLA KN Rajanna has also proposed Parameshwara as a chief ministerial candidate, amplifying demands for a "Dalit CM" in the state.
