In an exclusive interview with India Today's Consulting Editor Rajdeep Sardesai, Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar refuted speculation about leadership changes in the state government and stated Siddaramaiah is his leader and chief minister.
00:10Are we now to understand that Mr. Siddharamaya will be Chief Minister till 2028, till the next election?
00:17Or is this a temporary truce between you and him?
00:25See, we have been working together.
00:27The people of Karnataka has given us opportunity to serve them.
00:32We have implemented whatever we have promised.
00:35Their entire country is looking at.
00:38The confidence restored by the people of this state is very much important.
00:43So the party has decided who has to be the Chief Minister and the party team will take a call.
00:48That is what we are working together.
00:51Siddharamaya is our leader, he is my Chief Minister, I am his deputy.
00:55We all are working together.
00:57You are saying party?
00:58Now, Mr. Sudjiwala has come to see the organization.
01:00Yes.
01:01See, I am telling you, Mr. Sudjiwala has come to make, see now, Mr. Malikaj in Kargay had announced that this year will be the year of organization.
01:14So we are changing all the organization structure.
01:17The DCC, the blocks who have been there for a very long time and a new setup, they want to give more power to the DCCs.
01:24That process is going on.
01:27So he is taking suggestions from all the legislators who has to be, who is to lead, whether the DCCs should fight the election or work for the party.
01:35All these things have been discussed.
01:37And we are just planning for 100 Congress party, Congress offices.
01:42In that connection, he is just discussing.
01:44Sir, the reason I am asking you this is because there were reports ever since, in fact, you all won the election two years ago that you and Mr. Sidharamaya will share the term.
01:54Two and a half years, Sidharamaya, two and a half years, DK Shiv Kumar.
01:57The two and a half years ends in November.
01:59And there has been speculation that you will take over from him.
02:02Now, is this, therefore, that's why I asked you, is it a temporary truce or is a decision been taken that Sidharamaya ji will continue for the entire term?
02:11I don't want to discuss anything as that.
02:17But yesterday, my president, the ACC president, Mr. Malikarjin Kargi has commented on the issue.
02:24When he has commented, I am no one to comment on that issue.
02:28Whatever the party take a stand, we stand by it.
02:31Whether it is one year, two year, three year, five year or next five years, we have been going by the party high cabinet.
02:38I am a disciplined soldier of the party.
02:40I will go by my party high cabinet, whatever they tell.
02:43My job is to bring 2028 back to power in Karnataka.
02:48You are saying your job is to bring the Congress back to power in 2028.
02:53But one of your close associates, Mr. Hussain, an MLA today from Ramnagara said that more than 100 MLAs will support DK Shiv Kumar.
03:01Shiv Kumar ji should be made chief minister now.
03:03You have sent a disciplinary notice to him.
03:05I mean, am I to understand that you have been told that you should not encourage your supporters to ask for leadership change?
03:12No, I don't want anyone to ask this one.
03:17It is not the MLA battle or they may like, they may dislike.
03:22It is not anyone's choice.
03:24The decision has been already left to the high command.
03:27High command will take a decision whenever they want, if it is needed.
03:31Otherwise, we will all work together.
03:34I am not in a hurry for anything now.
03:36But why are so many ministers speaking out?
03:39We are at BR Patel, one of your MLA speakers.
03:41So many MLA ministers are speaking out against your government.
03:45It seems as if the Congress in Karnataka is a house divided two camps.
03:49Shiv Kumar camp, Sidhara Maya camp and some say possibly in the future even a Malik Arjun Gharge camp.
03:55No, it is all media speculation.
04:02There are no camps.
04:03There is no Shukumar camp or Sidhara Maya camp or any camp.
04:06There is only one camp.
04:07That is the Congress camp.
04:08You are saying there is no Congress camp.
04:12But then, do you agree?
04:13Then why are so many people speaking out of turn?
04:15There are people who are questioning the way the government is being run.
04:19They are directly targeting Mr. Sidhara Maya's style of functioning.
04:23I mean, it seems as if you are the party president also.
04:27You are not just deputy chief minister.
04:28There is no discipline in your party.
04:30Everyone is targeting the other side.
04:33No, no.
04:36That is why discipline is very important.
04:39That is why Mr. Swarjiwala is also working out to keep everyone and not to speak anything in public.
04:46If they want anything, let they hear their grievances before the party.
04:49I command.
04:50And I am there.
04:51Mr. CM is there.
04:52We will sort out their issues.
04:55Sir, you all came to power with a lot of expectations, sir, two years ago.
05:03And you were party president at the time.
05:06Now, would you agree that all these, that this kind of statements which are being made do affect your image?
05:14Do you concede that the Karnataka government's image has been affected, Mr. Shiv Kumar?
05:22No, I don't think that image.
05:24Some small desires and dissatisfaction some may have.
05:28But it is a very big party with a big history.
05:31Sometimes they speak.
05:32But Ayurthik is under control.
05:34Sir, you are both party president and deputy chief minister.
05:38And there has been talk that you may have to give up one of the two posts.
05:41Is that also true?
05:42Or are you leaving that decision also to the high command?
05:44Whatever the party tells, I will go by that.
05:50It is not…
05:51The day one, we brought the party to power.
05:54From the day one, I am ready.
05:56Whatever they take the decision, I will go by it.
05:58I believe in my party high command.
06:00Who is the high…
06:01When you say high command, is it the Gandhi family?
06:03Is it Malik Arjun Gharge?
06:04He is the party president.
06:06He is also from Karnataka.
06:07Is Malik Arjun Gharge the high command?
06:09Or is Sonia and Rahul Gandhi?
06:11Sonia Gandhi claims that she is not involved in day-to-day politics.
06:14So who is it?
06:15Rahul Gandhi, who is this high command?
06:17My party high command is my party.
06:23All India Congress committee president, my general secretaries, my former IACC presidents,
06:29all of them will sit and unitedly they will work and take a decision.
06:33It is not an individual decision that no one takes in my party.
06:36They all collectively sits.
06:38Our general secretary, administration, all of them sit.
06:42They are about it.
06:43And half a dozen of the leaders are there.
06:45They will take a call.
06:46How do you respond, sir, to the BJP which says that this government in Karnataka
06:50is living on day-to-day, month-to-month oxygen.
06:55This government in Karnataka will not last because of the infighting and factionalism.
06:59What will you say?
07:00The BJP is very gleeful.
07:02They are saying this has become a corrupt government
07:04and this corruption will eventually bring the downfall of this government.
07:13The BJP has given us more oxygen.
07:16Their administration, their rule, their infighting is in the sky.
07:21At least we are on the ground.
07:23They are on the sky.
07:24The infighting going on in the BJP.
07:26You know how things are going on in the BJP better than being.
07:29Sir, but they are saying you call them a 40% sarkara.
07:33They are calling you a 60% sarkara.
07:35They are saying you attacked us, saying that a PCM attacked the BOMAI government.
07:40Now they are attacking you and saying your government is taking money.
07:42You all are the corrupt government.
07:44There is nothing there to prove.
07:49Politically, they are charging.
07:51We have proved there whatever they have done and the people have accepted whatever we have said in the state of Karnataka.
07:57In conclusion, I will ask you, sir.
08:00There is a belief that post-September things could start happening in Karnataka.
08:03As I said, two and a half years, two and a half years.
08:06Your supporters have been saying this, sir.
08:08Whether you like it or not, that DK Shiv Kumar after two and a half years should become the chief minister.
08:13That was a deal that was agreed to apparently in May of 2023.
08:17I want clarity once and for all.
08:20Was there such a deal and will there be an attempt in October, November to effect a leadership change?
08:25See, we are not bothered about whatever my followers are.
08:34I don't have any followers.
08:35The Congress party is one.
08:37I don't want anyone to support.
08:39The party will take a decision whenever the party seems fit for what to, because we want 28 to come to power.
08:47We are working.
08:48Siddharamaya is my chief minister.
08:50Whenever, till ever, whenever he is there, I have to be work and we will work together.
08:54There is no question of any changes as of now.
08:58So, the hint that Mr. Kargay had given yesterday, there could be a leadership change.
09:02You are saying that is all speculation.
09:04You are saying you and Siddharamaya will work together.
09:07Of course, of course, whatever Kargay has said also, with lot of experience, lot of, he knows the entire situation.
09:19He will, whatever direction he will give, we all will abide by it and we will work together.
09:26D.K. Shiv Kumar, I know you've had a very long day and yet you've come on the show in conclusion.
09:32D.K. Shiv Kumar, whenever I talk to you, somewhere, I mean, as a longstanding congressman, you have an ambition to become chief minister.
09:39Don't deny.
09:40Don't, you know, don't say that you don't want to be.
09:42You believe that you work just as hard as anyone else.
09:45True or not?
09:47Your smile is saying it all.
09:49Your smile is saying it all.
09:50We will discuss later.
09:52Anyway, let us see that we come back with a better number.
10:01That is in 2028.
10:02We will come back with a better number.
10:042028.
10:05Okay, I'll leave it there.
10:06D.K. Shiv Kumar, I think the smile said it all.
10:08Who knows what tomorrow brings?
10:09There is a summer here.
10:10What will happen tomorrow?
10:12Who knows what tomorrow brings?
10:14In Panipat, I said to your TV that we are coming out with 136.
10:20I hope you remember.
10:21Yes, you are absolutely right in 2023.
10:24So that's why I asked you, will there be another chief minister in 2026?
10:29We will meet later.
10:31Bye.
10:32Okay.
10:33Thank you very much.
10:34Okay.
10:35There you have D.K. Shiv Kumar clarifying and claiming that he is fully with Mr. Sidharamaya
10:42and the Congress leadership, whatever decision they take.
10:46This is where you get all these exclusive news breaks.
10:48The Congress party, at least for the moment, seems to have doused the fires in Karnataka.
