- 16 hours ago
Congress leader KC Venugopal called the talks about any leadership change in Karnataka "mere speculation" and asserted that the day-long discussions between the central and state top brass were solely focused on the upcoming elections to the Rajya Sabha and the state's Legislative Council.
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00:01Honorable General Secretary Organization Shri K.C. Venu Gopal Ji, Siddharamaya Ji Honorable Chief Minister, Honorable Deputy Chief Minister Shri
00:12D.K. Shivkumar Ji, they are all here and on behalf of the party a short statement will be made
00:20by Honorable General Secretary Organization Shri K.C. Venu Gopal Ji.
00:26At this point, we will not be taking any questions. I also request you to, for heaven's sake, now stop
00:33your speculations.
00:36That they will do. Don't worry about it.
00:40Friends, today we had a detailed meeting with Honorable Congress President Maligarjuna Kargai Ji and LOP Rahul Gandhi Ji.
00:55Of course, CM Siddharamaya Ji, Deputy CM D.K. Shikumar Ji and General Secretary in charge of Karnataka and myself
01:04be part of the discussion.
01:08Today, entire discussion is only concentrated on coming Rajya Sabha elections and council elections of Karnataka.
01:18Whatever speculation you people are doing, that is only speculation, no reality at all.
01:25Today, we discussed about the Rajya Sabha seats and the council seats of Karnataka.
01:33The candidates of Rajya Sabha and council seats of Karnataka will be announced along with the other seats like Chathisgarh,
01:45like Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan and Jarkhand, like the states.
01:51That's all. This is what we have decided today. Nothing else discussed today.
01:56I said we will not take any questions.
01:59I already said we will not take any questions.
02:01Sir, but there are lots of speculations about it.
02:04So you can have, see him, sir.
02:05See him, sir.
02:06See him, sir.
02:08See him, sir.
02:13Okay, so you had the big statement that's come in from KC Venagopala.
02:18A brief statement where he maintains that the only discussion that took place was on the Rajya Sabha elections, was
02:25on MLC seats and nothing beyond.
02:29Sidra Maya, D.K. Shiv Kumar, we're trying to get in a word from them, as you can see.
02:33Doesn't look like they're willing to speak to the media.
02:35Let's just cut across live to see if Sidra Maya is reacting.
02:41Cabinet, reachable, sir.
02:43What about cabinet, reachable, sir?
02:45That has not even come up.
02:49It's a very long meeting, just two adjourn, sir.
02:52See, him, sir.
02:53Final adjourn, sir.
02:54Going, going.
02:55Are you going?
03:16Okay, so you just saw there Sidramaya refusing to comment to the media.
03:20Does this mean that its status quo?
03:22Most definitely, yes.
03:23But also it means essentially that if there's no announcement of a cabinet reshuffle,
03:29it means that it's a deadlock.
03:30Let's be very clear that as far as the announcements go,
03:33at this point, KC Venugopal has said that the discussions that have taken place
03:38are on the Rajasabha polls and nothing beyond that.
03:42He says that there's no question of any conversation on CM change
03:47or on really any question of whether we're going to see a change in Chief Minister of Continuity,
03:54none of that has been brought up according to KC Venugopal.
03:57But then why wasn't an announcement made on a cabinet reshuffle,
04:01which has been the need of the hour in Karnataka?
04:04It's something that's been delayed non-stop.
04:06Why were there one-on-one meetings with Sidramaya and D.K. Shivkumar?
04:11Technically, even as far as the Rajasabha seats go,
04:14let's be very clear that if there's a question of change of guard,
04:18that automatically impacts who really will be propped up in the Rajasabha election as well.
04:23Whether it will be Sidramaya, if D.K. Shivkumar is named as the Chief Minister,
04:27then Sidramaya will be given a Rajasabha seat.
04:30So they have a direct impact on one another.
04:32But at KC Venugopal saying very clearly, and let's play out that statement for you once again,
04:37KC Venugopal saying very clearly that nothing else was discussed,
04:41essentially suggesting that the entire CM fight and all of the questions and conversations
04:47about whether a decision will be taken today is a figment of the media's imagination.
04:51This is what the Congress top brass maintains.
04:54But a couple of unanswered questions here.
04:56One on why we've seen then meeting after meeting taking place,
05:00one on one with D.K. Shivkumar, one on one with Sidramaya.
05:04If this was about a Rajasabha election,
05:06why was there a need for these non-stop huddles to take place?
05:10If it was as simple as choosing names for the Rajasabha seats in Karnataka and other states?
05:16That will be a question that is constantly asked.
05:20But beyond that, also the fact that there's been no announcement on a cabinet reshuffle.
05:25A cabinet reshuffle would have meant essentially that Sidramaya stays.
05:30And even that hasn't been announced.
05:32Let me take this across to Rahul Gautam and then we'll play out for you exactly what KC Venugopal said.
05:37Rahul, the messaging from the high command is,
05:40look, there's been no conversation at all on Chief Minister in Karnataka,
05:45on change, continuity, none of that.
05:46What are you hearing from your sources?
05:48Does this mean, Rahul, that deadlock continues essentially?
05:56Well, you know, this is what actually means exactly that the deadlock still continues.
06:03In fact, when KC Venugopal, Randeep Surjewala, Sidra Ramayana and DK Shif Kumar,
06:09they all came out.
06:10In the very beginning, Randeep Surjewala said that you please stop speculations
06:15after this short statement that has been made by KC Venugopal.
06:19And then KC Venugopal put on record that this meeting was essentially about Rajya Sabah
06:24and MSA elections.
06:25And therefore, whatever you people had speculated was just not true.
06:31But, you know, things are not just adding up.
06:33Why, you know, there was this one-on-one meeting that happened with Sidra Ramayana.
06:39You know, there were two rounds of meeting at least that happened between senior leaders
06:42and Sidra Ramayana alone.
06:44Why, RG and Sidra Ramayana met alone.
06:46So, you know, we have to really wait and watch for, you know, more clarity to come in.
06:52But one thing is very essential here, that for now or for time being,
06:56we can say that no regime change is happening in the state of Karnataka.
07:01There were a lot of speculations, you know, about Sidra Ramayana going out
07:06or D.K. Shipumar coming in or G. Padmeshura or Malika Arjun Kharge being propped up.
07:10But it seems that from, since the official word has now come
07:15and we have no other reason, we have no reason to not believe it.
07:19There's no announcement.
07:19Why was there no announcement of a cabinet reshuffle?
07:22You know, if there was no question whatsoever of a CM change
07:25and that never came up in the first place,
07:28why hasn't a cabinet reshuffle been announced then?
07:36Well, I can tell my viewers, our viewers that, you know,
07:39Sidra Ramayana has left from Indira Bhavan straight for the airport.
07:43So, he'll be leaving Delhi and will be landing in Bangalore shortly.
07:48So, it seems that the business here is finished and therefore he is going back.
07:54As far as cabinet reshuffle is concerned, yes, there was no word,
07:57official word from KC Binagopal or from Randeep Singh Surjewala.
08:03So, you know, things are still not adding up, Akshita,
08:06as I was telling you earlier, that probably this is one of the few unusual times
08:12when a meeting has gone for so long for Rajya Sabha election or for MLC election.
08:18It is something which we have not seen very frequently happening in AICC.
08:22So, clearly, we'll be getting some clarity, you know, by the end of the day,
08:28possibly in coming days.
08:30But it seems that at least till 18th of June when the results...
08:36Nothing quite adds up here.
08:37Moshmi, I want to bring you in on this as well.
08:40It's unusual for a marathon, what, a six, seven hour meeting to take place
08:47over Rajya Sabha seats.
08:49It's unusual to have one-on-one meetings with the Chief Minister,
08:52the Deputy Chief Minister over Rajya Sabha seats.
08:55It's unusual that in a situation where there are so many questions
08:59of a cabinet reshuffle, no announcement is made on that front.
09:03Nothing adds up here, Moshmi.
09:04The Congress may say stop all speculation, no conversation at all at a CM change.
09:08Then what's stopping them from going ahead and saying,
09:10yes, Sidra Maya is the Chief Minister, yes, we're bringing in a cabinet reshuffle,
09:13it's going to happen very soon.
09:19See, clearly, I wouldn't like to indulge in speculations, Akshita,
09:24but it's our responsibility to tell our viewers what's actually happening
09:29at Indra Bhawan.
09:31And as Rahul Gautam said that it really doesn't add up.
09:36I think there's lots brewing inside.
09:39My sources do indicate that there was a serious discussion on leadership issue.
09:45There was a serious discussion on Sidra Maya stepping down.
09:52Apparently, my sources do tell me that Sidra Maya was asked to perhaps take up,
09:59come via Rajya Sabha route to Delhi and take a larger role in Delhi.
10:04Now, a marathon discussion happens from 11 a.m.
10:08I'm not saying that they couldn't have sat over there and just discussed
10:13and deliberated over the three Rajya Sabha seats and the MLCs.
10:17But there is a lot that is brewing within.
10:20And if you see the way both the leaders were flanked,
10:26Sidra Ramayana has gone, DK Shiv Kumar is still inside at Indra Bhawan.
10:30No, and just an update on that, Moshmi, just stay with me, just an update on that.
10:34DK Shiv Kumar is right now meeting with KC Veen Gopal alone.
10:38This is happening in KC Veen Gopal's office.
10:41As Moshmi pointed out, Sidra Maya is left directly to the airport.
10:45He's going to be heading back to Bengaluru.
10:47And many will try to read into those signs as well.
10:50We're not going to jump the gun simply because the Congress continues to maintain
10:54that all of this is mere speculation.
10:56But you essentially read between the lines here of all that's playing out,
11:00the messaging, the body language.
11:01DK Shiv Kumar remains in Delhi.
11:03He's not headed back to Bengaluru.
11:05He's meeting with KC Veen Gopal alone, a one-on-one meeting that's taking place.
11:10Moshmi Singh is still with us.
11:12Moshmi, get us those updates.
11:17So, the big breaking news that I was telling you, Akshita, my sources do confirm that this
11:23has been discussed very seriously.
11:26The leadership issue, the change of guard, and Sidra Maya, my sources tell me, have been
11:32asked, Sidra Maya has been asked that whether it was possible for him to come via the Raj Sabha
11:40to Delhi, and that's an important development, though I'll still reiterate, the official
11:48word is that only the Raj Sabha and the MLC seats were discussed.
11:52But I am told that in a one-on-one meeting with Mr. Karge and Rahul Gandhi, Sidra Maya's
12:01tenure was discussed.
12:02And of course, he's been the longest-serving chief minister.
12:05How he's needed in Delhi, he's the big OBC face for the Congress, and Rahul Gandhi has
12:11a big OBC fight coming up ahead of 2029.
12:15So, all those things were discussed now.
12:18What it has reached to, we don't know.
12:20But yes, there could possibly be a stalemate over that.
12:24And Congress, of course, would not want to put that forward in a press conference of sorts,
12:30because there is no big takeaway from it.
12:33It's just a matter of deliberation and discussion.
12:36But yes, in a one-on-one discussion, and Rahul Gandhi had a one-on-one with the chief minister.
12:43Remember, DK Shiv Kumar, you can see all this huddle.
12:46DK Shiv Kumar is still inside at Indra Bhavan, while Sidra Ramayana, the Karnataka chief minister,
12:53has already left.
12:55So, interesting parlays there.
12:59Though the Congress maintains, I would reiterate, that the discussion was about three Raj Sabha seats,
13:06of which one is clear that Mr. Karke would be coming back, and the MLC seats.
13:12This discussion has had a marathon length of time, from morning till evening.
13:17And as our sources do tell us, do confirm to us, that the leadership issue was discussed at LEN.
13:26A one-on-one meeting with both the leaders, it was discussed.
13:30Now, I'm not really saying, till we have it yet, that whether DK Shiv Kumar was also told the same.
13:38But, clearly, it was indicated to Sidra Ramayana, that he had a long run, and it was time to contribute
13:46in Delhi.
13:47Of course, taking care of his stature, and the liking that Rahul Gandhi really has for Sidra Ramayana,
13:52and the respect, my sources tell me that it was more of a request to contribute in Delhi,
14:00and come via the Raj Sabha to Delhi, is what our sources tell us.
14:04Okay, so Moshmi getting us that big, big news break, that sources have, in fact, confirmed.
14:11The High Command has said it's the turn of DK Shiv Kumar as Chief Minister,
14:15that Sidra Ramayana has been asked to step down after what's been non-stop meetings in Delhi.
14:21But looks like Sidra Ramayana isn't happy.
14:25He's been asked to take up a Raj Sabha position, larger role in Delhi.
14:29But, at this point, reportedly, Sidra Ramayana is not okay with that.
14:34He's left from the Congress headquarters, while DK Shiv Kumar is still there in a meeting with KC Veen Gopal.
14:41Look, the Congress maintains none of this is true, nothing has changed.
14:45Stop all the speculation.
14:46There was only a conversation about the MLC seats and the Raj Sabha seats.
14:50The reality is, and I've always said this, the two bind together.
14:53If there's going to be a conversation about a CM change or a change of guard,
14:57automatically, the conversation also comes in over who do you reserve a Raj Sabha seat for.
15:02And so, the two, in a sense, are connected, are linked.
15:05Having said that, here's the information we're picking up,
15:08that Sidra Ramayana has been offered a different role,
15:10staying away from Karnataka, move towards a national role for Congress
15:14and be a part of the Raj Sabha.
15:16As a veteran leader, you can then be seated in the Raj Sabha
15:20with the likes of Sonia Gandhi and Malikar Junkarge.
15:22Okay, Sidra Maya is now left from the Congress headquarters.
15:25Not a word uttered by him, not a word uttered by D.K. Shivkumar.
15:29The only communication is from KC Veen Gopal.
15:31Let's play out for you exactly what KC Veen Gopal said moments ago
15:35and then we'll take this across once again to our reporters.
15:54We'll get to the reaction in just a bit, but I'll take this once again across to our reporters.
15:59Sagaraj is live with us.
16:01We also have Moshmi Singh for those updates.
16:04Sagar, if you can hear me, what are you picking up from your sources?
16:07Look, the Congress says no discussion whatsoever took place on the CM,
16:13on whether there's going to be a change or not.
16:16So, Moshmi tells us that the messaging is Sidra Maya has to step down.
16:20What are you picking up?
16:22More than four hours of meeting with Rahul Gandhi, Sidra Maya was there in the meeting
16:27and it was quite clear that Rahul Gandhi was trying to convince Sidra Maya
16:31and he wanted a smooth transition, if at all, if there is a transition in the state of Karnataka.
16:35And that is the reason he was trying to convince him to take a bigger role.
16:38And this is the time for payback, time for Sidra Maya because ever since he has joined Congress,
16:44he was in power either as an opposition party leader or a coordination committee chairman
16:48or a chief minister of Karnataka for close to eight years.
16:51And now they feel that now at least he had to go ahead and work at the national level
16:55and contribute for the party at the forthcoming 2029 election,
17:00try to mobilize more of the backward class community votes for the Congress.
17:04So, there were no options even to him whether he want to suggest some other name.
17:10There were no options.
17:11It was just instructions that were given to him saying that please come here, work with us
17:15and you have to pay a bigger role at national level as a mass leader for the backward class community.
17:25Okay, so clearly the messaging has been sent across to Sidra Maya.
17:30Is he unhappy, Sagai? Because all reports indicated that if he's asked to step down,
17:36he'll do it quietly. Doesn't seem to be the case right now.
17:40Absolutely. Time and again, he has maintained that when Rahul Kali asked him to step down,
17:44he is ready. The next minute he will send out his resignation.
17:47Whether it is Ashok Gelos or chief minister of Sidra Maya,
17:50both of them are unhappy for a national goal.
17:52Whether it is the AITC president or a backward class committee chairman or a Rajya Sabha member,
17:57nobody wants to...
17:58Okay, I'm taking this across to Washmi Singh.
17:59She's getting us...
18:04Sir, you are going to be the new chief minister of Karnataka, sir.
18:12So, let's try and get D.K. Shivkumar right there.
18:18D.K., sir?
18:20Sir, what was discussed with you in a one-on-one meeting, sir?
18:23D.K. Sir, what was discussed with you?
18:26D.K., sir?
18:27Sir?
18:28Leadership change is happening.
18:29So, sir, tell me who is coming from Rajya Sabha.
18:31If that was Rajya Sabha, 5 hours, discuss me.
18:34Who is coming from Rajya Sabha, 5 hours?
18:36Sir, 5 hours you took to discuss Rajya Sabha, no?
18:39D.K. Shivkumar is a lawyer, he is also a lawyer.
18:42Sir, what did Rahul Gandhi say to you?
18:44Excuse me, excuse me.
18:46Let's move the sides.
18:47Yeah, he is not going to open.
18:49Sir, sir.
18:50D.K., sir?
18:51D.K., sir, at least give us a soundbite, sir.
18:53Sorry, sorry.
18:56Sir, is it possible that MLC and Rajya Sabha is discussed for 6 hours from morning till evening?
19:02How is it possible?
19:05Sir, are you going to become the new Chief Minister of Karnataka?
19:09So, D.K. Shivkumar keeping a very straight face there.
19:13He did have a smile when he came out of Indra Bhavan Akshata.
19:17And here, D.K. Shivkumar having another meeting.
19:21He went inside after Siddhar Ramayana left.
19:24Party trying to put up a united face.
19:26With a very short briefing by K.C.
19:29D.K., sir.
19:31Sir, victory sign, victory sign.
19:34Namaskar.
19:35All that we get is a namaste yet again, Akshata.
19:39Since morning, we are seeing how whether it's Mr. Kharge or whether it's Mr. D.K. Shivkumar.
19:45He was keeping a very straight face there.
19:47Small smile, but really not saying a word.
19:52Completely tight-lipped.
19:54Interesting that Siddhar Ramayana did come out and say a few words,
19:58said that the MLC and the Rajshava elections were discussed.
20:02But D.K. Shivkumar isn't blinking and isn't saying a word.
20:07Now, Moshmi Singh, the head of reporting,
20:09best asked every possible question to D.K. Shivkumar.
20:12Refused to answer any of those, just with a namaskara, sat inside the car.
20:17It's clear that at this point, the Congress has told them,
20:19look, keep quiet till we sort this out.
20:22Keep quiet till we solve this conundrum and end this stalemate.
20:26Moshmi, you've got us that exclusive news break here on India today,
20:29that it is, in fact, D.K. Shivkumar, who is the chosen one now,
20:33that Siddhar Ramayana has been asked to step down as the Chief Minister.
20:36But what's it going to be like, Moshmi?
20:38Why is there a stalemate?
20:40Is Siddhar Ramayana refusing to step down?
20:41And why is he doing that?
20:43Because right up until now, we did hear that Siddhar Ramayana,
20:46now having overtaken Devraj Aras' record of longest-serving Chief Minister,
20:50was okay with stepping down, was resigning as Chief Minister.
20:53What's changed?
20:58I think we've lost Moshmi.
21:00I'm going to reconnect with her in just a bit to get those details.
21:03Moshmi did tell us that her sources have confirmed
21:05that the High Command communicated to Siddhar Ramayana very clearly
21:09that, look, it's time to step down what they offered him.
21:13The consolation posting, if you will,
21:14was essentially a Rajasabha seat, a larger role in Delhi.
21:19But it looks like, going by the fact that you're seeing a stalemate even now,
21:23it looks like Siddhar Ramayana isn't happy with any of those offers
21:26and wants to remain the Chief Minister of Karnataka.
21:30D.K. Shivkumar, when asked all of these questions,
21:32refused to answer any of them.
21:35Just simply smiling with a namaskara,
21:37got into a scar, left from that particular spot.
21:40Why?
21:40Because for D.K. Shivkumar, also at this point,
21:43he's going to wait and watch.
21:45If the messaging is that, look, he's going to be the next Chief Minister,
21:48he'll be waiting for the Congress High Command
21:50to take their time to convince Siddhar Ramayana.
21:52Because at the end of the day,
21:54they will want this to be as smooth as possible.
21:56No question of a transition that will be rough and bumpy.
22:00They need Siddhar Ramayana on their side.
22:01As an OBC face, as an OBC leader,
22:04they do not want a situation
22:06where Siddhar Ramayana is feeling sidelined or miffed.
22:09There's a possibility that in the next 24 hours,
22:11things will be ironed out.
22:13Siddhar Ramayana has already left to the airport.
22:16He's headed back to Bengaluru.
22:17D.K. Shivkumar has just left from the Congress headquarters
22:20right after KC Veina Gopal briefed the media.
22:23There's a one-on-one meeting between KC Veina Gopal and D.K. Shivkumar.
22:26You can read into that whichever way you will.
22:29But our sources are telling us
22:30that the High Command has taken a pick
22:32and it is D.K. Shivkumar.
22:33That Sidra Maya has been asked to step down.
22:36He's being offered a Rajasabha seat instead.
22:39So we'll have to see which way that goes.
22:41But Sagair Raj is live with us.
22:42We're going to get Moshmi and Rahul Gautam also with us in just a bit.
22:46What happens next, Sagai?
22:48Right now, stalemate, which means status quo.
22:50No cabinet reshuffle, no CM change,
22:52which means that Karnataka again left in the lurch
22:55till there is a concrete announcement by the High Command One
22:59and till maybe Sidra Maya agrees to what they offer him.
23:05Absolutely, Akshita.
23:06And they want to take Sidra Maya on board
23:08and they want a smooth transition,
23:10if at all there is a transition happening
23:11and they don't want to go otherwise against Sidra Maya.
23:15So probably they will try to convince him
23:17and that is the reason the meeting went on
23:19for more than four to five hours at Yudhrabam in Delhi.
23:23And probably they will talk to him
23:25and so far he has not spoken about it.
23:27And once they get a green signal from Sidra Maya,
23:31probably that's when they will announce.
23:33And he might have also sought time from Rahul Gandhi
23:36that he needs to talk to his family and his supporters
23:39and announce his decision.
23:41So it is a plan from Sidra Maya
23:48that how to go ahead and how to announce this
23:53and now what their followers and his loyalists
23:55are going to advise him
23:57when it comes to this particular decision.
24:00Once again, Moshmi, the question I was asking you,
24:03considering you got us that news break
24:04that your sources have confirmed
24:06Sidra Maya has been asked to step down,
24:08what's the hiccup then, Moshmi?
24:09Earlier there were suggestions that Sidra Maya
24:11now is ready to resign
24:12if he's asked to do so by the High Command.
24:14Is he unhappy with the offer made to him?
24:17Does he want to continue as Chief Minister?
24:18What's going on?
24:23Sorry, Akshita, for that glitch
24:25because there was a lot of chasing
24:27as far as Dikishu Kumar is concerned.
24:30And as I told you, he didn't say a word.
24:32But importantly, you know,
24:34Sidra Maya has been at the helm of affairs
24:38in power for more than 20 years.
24:41He's been the longest-serving Chief Minister
24:42and somewhere that weighed
24:45on the minds of the party High Command
24:47that we have to look forward
24:48in the run-up to the 2028 elections.
24:51Though, with a very straight face,
24:54KC Vinopal said,
24:55we discussed Raj Sabha seats and MLC seats.
24:59That's because the answer
25:01that Sidra Maya would have given.
25:02We are told that he must have asked
25:04for some more time
25:05to think about the offer.
25:08The offer being,
25:09that means that he has run
25:12as the Chief Minister will come to an end
25:15and he has to switch roles.
25:17He has to switch roles
25:18and come via the Raj Sabha route
25:21to Delhi and play a role here.
25:24Importantly, there are two battles
25:25that are coming up.
25:26So he was persuaded
25:28to look at 2029
25:31and chart a very strong territory
25:33for the Congress
25:34as the big OBC face
25:36of the Congress Party.
25:38and he was told
25:41that he should step down
25:44as Chief Minister.
25:45Now, that was the answer
25:47from Sidra Maya
25:48was that he wanted
25:50more time to think.
25:52And remember that Rahul Gandhi
25:54and Malika Arjun Karge
25:55would want to get this done
25:58smoothly
25:59with the consent of Sidra Maya.
26:02Earlier, as you said,
26:03he has said that Rahul Gandhi,
26:05if he asks him to step down,
26:07he would step down.
26:09But right now,
26:10instead of saying
26:11that he won't step down,
26:13Sidra Maya has simply asked
26:15for more time
26:15to think about
26:17this entire decision.
26:18And that's why
26:20the Congress
26:20is maintaining secrecy.
26:23It doesn't want to
26:24wash its dirty linen,
26:26you can say.
26:26It doesn't want to
26:27get its internal tussle
26:28out in the open.
26:29Things are ironing out.
26:31And DK Shiv Kumar
26:32looked very confident.
26:34My hitch is that
26:36if somebody is replacing
26:38Sidra Ramayana right now,
26:40DK Shiv Kumar
26:41is the person,
26:42is the leader
26:43who would be
26:44the choice of the
26:45party high command
26:46in terms of his
26:47being a loyalist,
26:49the promise that
26:50has been made to him.
26:51So, there's no third choice
26:52that's come up
26:53as far as the developments
26:55right now are concerned.
26:56So, no wildcard entry
26:58which we were discussing
26:59earlier today.
27:00That's good to know
27:00because this Game of Thrones
27:02is as complicated
27:02as it gets already.
27:04So, it's only between
27:04Sidra Maya and DK Shiv Kumar.
27:07There's no third contender
27:08right now for the post.
27:09And the information
27:10that Moshami has been
27:11getting us is that
27:12Sidra Maya has been told,
27:13look, you've served
27:14three years as Chief Minister.
27:16And so, the high command
27:17has communicated to him
27:18that it's time to step down.
27:20What they're offering
27:20in return is a Rajasabha seat,
27:22a role in Delhi,
27:23in the central AICC
27:25in the All India Congress Committee.
27:28At this point,
27:29Sidra Maya hasn't agreed.
27:31He's perhaps going to
27:32think it through,
27:33mullet over in the next 24 hours,
27:35expect that there could be
27:36a decision taken.
27:37DK Shiv Kumar is also left
27:39from the Congress headquarters.
27:40Is he going to be
27:40camping in Delhi or not?
27:42That by itself
27:42will give you
27:43the necessary messaging
27:44about what's going to happen.
27:46Mr. Sandeep Shastri,
27:47election analyst,
27:48is joining us
27:49on this broadcast.
27:49We have Mr. R.K. Upadia,
27:51senior journalist as well.
27:53Mr. Sandeep Shastri,
27:55we have had countless
27:55such broadcasts
27:56where we've spoken
27:57of the Karnataka
27:58Game of Thrones.
27:59I am counting on the fact
28:00that this will be
28:01the last one
28:02in the sense
28:02that in the next 24 hours,
28:04there should be
28:04a sense of finality.
28:06But as expected,
28:07I would say,
28:08Mr. Shastri,
28:08you've got a high command
28:10going with DK Shiv Kumar
28:11rather than Sidra Maya.
28:13To you,
28:13does that decision
28:14make sense, sir?
28:17Akshita,
28:18on your channel,
28:19over the last few months,
28:21I have been maintaining
28:22that it is not
28:23a if decision
28:24but a when decision.
28:26It is not a question
28:27of whether
28:28if DKS will become
28:30chief minister
28:30but when he'll become
28:32chief minister.
28:33And I think
28:34the Congress
28:35high command
28:36has taken its time
28:37to iron out
28:39that difference
28:40and create that moment
28:42for Sidra Maya
28:44to agree.
28:45I don't think
28:46the final act
28:47in that drama
28:48is over.
28:48There will be
28:49more hard bargaining
28:51that goes on.
28:52But I think
28:53it's very clear
28:55that a transition
28:56in Karnataka
28:57is to happen
28:57because even
28:58from a Congress
28:59perspective,
29:00you will need
29:01to give a new
29:02chief minister
29:03at least two years
29:04time
29:05to be able
29:06to create
29:07a impression
29:08and go to
29:09the voter
29:10in 2028
29:11with that
29:13chief minister
29:14face.
29:14So,
29:14I think that
29:16minimum period
29:16of two years
29:17for a new
29:18leader was
29:18something very
29:19important that
29:20they needed
29:20to give.
29:21And I don't
29:23think the
29:24last act
29:25of this
29:27drama is
29:28still over.
29:29I think there
29:30will be some
29:30more hedging
29:32and hawing
29:32and there will
29:33be still
29:33some more
29:34nudging
29:35and persuading
29:36that will
29:37need to...
29:37Mr. Shastri,
29:38explain this to
29:39us.
29:39I think a lot
29:39of questions
29:40that will come
29:40up is,
29:41do Sidramaya
29:42and DK
29:42Shivkumar
29:43not get
29:44along?
29:44That the
29:44moment this
29:45kind of drama
29:46takes place
29:47and reportedly
29:48Sidramaya is
29:49told that you
29:49have to step
29:50down,
29:50he kind of
29:51immediately
29:52becomes rigid
29:52and says,
29:53that's not
29:53going to happen.
29:54Is this a
29:55challenge where
29:56Sidramaya and
29:57DK Shivkumar
29:57don't get
29:58along or it's
29:58much beyond
29:59that?
29:59It's just
29:59about the
30:00CM chair.
30:01It's a
30:02much larger
30:04question.
30:05It's not
30:05just about
30:06X or Y.
30:08It's a
30:08question of
30:09when somebody
30:09has been
30:10chief minister
30:11for a full
30:11term and
30:12then is
30:12halfway down
30:13his second
30:14term.
30:15While in
30:16power,
30:16it's not
30:17very easy
30:18to get a
30:18leader to
30:19leave power.
30:20And let's
30:20also remember
30:22that Sidramaya
30:22is not a
30:23died-in-the-wool
30:24congressman.
30:25He has had
30:26his earlier
30:27innings with
30:28the Janata
30:28party and
30:29then moved
30:29to the
30:30congress
30:30party.
30:31So therefore
30:33his approach
30:34to politics
30:35is very
30:35different.
30:36He has
30:36been a
30:36very prominent
30:37backward-caste
30:38leader and
30:39he has been
30:39using that
30:40factor to
30:41his advantage.
30:42So I
30:43think there
30:44will be
30:44still a few
30:45more developments
30:46to happen
30:47before he
30:48finally says
30:49finally steps
30:50down.
30:51He has been
30:52maintaining that
30:52if the high
30:53command asks
30:53me to go,
30:54I will go.
30:55But that is
30:56more easier
30:56said than
30:57done.
30:58I think there
30:58will be a lot
30:59of backroom
31:00negotiations
31:00that will
31:01continue before
31:02the final act
31:03in that drama
31:04is played out.
31:06Mr. RK Upadia,
31:07your view, sir,
31:08and your opening
31:08comments of what
31:09we are reporting
31:10on right now.
31:10Look, the
31:10Congress says
31:11all this is
31:12speculation,
31:13there is no
31:13truth to it.
31:14Do you think
31:15that that messaging
31:15comes from a place
31:17of stalemate,
31:18that there has
31:18been no finality
31:20because Sidramaya
31:20at this point
31:21doesn't seem to
31:22be on board
31:22with the high
31:23command's decision?
31:25Well,
31:26Akshita,
31:26if the high
31:26command has
31:27decided to
31:28ask him to
31:29step down,
31:30I would say
31:31it's either a
31:32very bold
31:33decision or a
31:34reckless decision.
31:36You know,
31:36it can turn out
31:38to be either
31:38one of them
31:39because it's
31:40not easy for
31:41the high command
31:41to get rid of
31:42someone as
31:43strong a
31:43chief minister
31:44as Sidramaya.
31:45If they have
31:46really asked him
31:47to step down
31:47and if he said
31:48he's going to
31:49consider it,
31:50it will be a
31:51huge, huge
31:51victory for
31:52T.K.
31:53Shokumar,
31:54who could
31:54possibly be
31:55the next
31:55chief minister.
31:56No, but he's
31:57a strong leader
31:58too, sir.
31:58Mr. R.K.
31:59Upadhyaya,
31:59you know,
31:59if you look at
32:00it, and I've
32:01been saying this
32:02from our
32:02morning broadcast,
32:03that for the
32:04Congress, I
32:04command it's
32:05a question of
32:06choosing someone
32:07who's an OBC
32:07face versus
32:08looking at
32:092028.
32:10And you would
32:10think that
32:112028 would be
32:12the bigger
32:12priority here.
32:13So in that
32:14sense, the
32:14Congress High
32:15Command's
32:15decision does
32:16make sense.
32:17Now, 2020,
32:19how are you
32:19sure that
32:20Shokumar will
32:20be able to
32:21do better
32:22than, you
32:23know,
32:23Sidramaya?
32:24No, that,
32:25it's just a
32:26question of
32:26Sidramaya,
32:27sir, will be
32:29old.
32:29You know, you
32:29don't know if
32:30he's going to
32:30go into
32:31political
32:31retirement at
32:32that point.
32:32Will he be
32:32in a position
32:33to lead the
32:33Congress into
32:342028?
32:35Let me
32:36explain.
32:37Whether
32:38Sidramaya
32:38and Shokumar
32:39be able to
32:40take the
32:40MLS
32:41together?
32:42Will they
32:42get the
32:42backing of
32:43all the
32:43MLAs?
32:44Is there
32:45not a
32:45possibility of
32:46Sidramaya
32:47rebelling
32:47against the
32:48high command?
32:48Is it not
32:49possible for
32:50him to
32:50take a
32:51section of
32:52MLAs out
32:53of the
32:53Congress?
32:54All these
32:54possibilities are
32:55there.
32:56Don't, you
32:57know, discount
32:58all that
32:58because he is
33:00a mass
33:00leader with
33:01a strong
33:01base and
33:02the Congress
33:03Party in
33:04Karnataka,
33:04the legislators
33:05especially
33:06are firmly
33:07behind him.
33:08A majority
33:09of MLAs
33:09are firmly
33:10behind him.
33:10If the
33:11high command
33:11now decides
33:12to make
33:14Shokumar the
33:14chief minister,
33:15some might
33:15go.
33:16I would say
33:17maybe half
33:17of it.
33:18But will
33:18he get the
33:19majority of
33:20them to
33:20support?
33:21He needs
33:21130.
33:22Will he be
33:23able to
33:23mobilize that
33:24kind of
33:24support?
33:25I have my
33:26own doubts
33:26because
33:27Sidramaya,
33:28if he decides
33:28to fight
33:29this against
33:30the high
33:30command,
33:31I will tell
33:31you there
33:32will be hell
33:33to see
33:33in
33:33Karnataka.
33:34No, I
33:35agree that
33:36high command
33:36cannot afford
33:37a situation
33:38where you
33:38know, you've
33:39got Sidramaya
33:40upset in
33:41any way or
33:41you've got
33:42Sidramaya
33:42miffed over
33:43a decision.
33:44They will
33:44have to
33:44ensure that
33:45he's placated
33:45that ultimately
33:46whatever offer
33:47they make to
33:48him, it's an
33:49offer that he
33:50agrees to.
33:51And so there's
33:52no question of
33:52having a miffed
33:53Sidramaya and
33:54I'll talk about
33:54that in just a
33:55bit.
33:55Looking at the
33:56current situation
33:57and as things
33:58play out,
33:58there are a
33:59couple of
33:59questions here on
34:00the scenarios.
34:01And then what
34:02could be the
34:03compromise formula
34:04that really
34:05we're looking at.
34:06The first
34:06scenario of course
34:07is that D.K.
34:08Shuf Kumar
34:08becomes the
34:09chief minister
34:10which at this
34:11point does
34:11look likely.
34:13What we're
34:13hearing from
34:14our sources
34:15is essentially
34:16that no
34:16likelihood this
34:17is going to
34:17happen, that
34:18the high command
34:18has taken
34:19their pick of
34:20D.K.
34:20Shuf Kumar.
34:21So what will
34:21Sidramaya get?
34:23He could get
34:24a Rajasaba seat
34:25so much so that
34:25they could go
34:26ahead and make
34:26him the leader
34:27of opposition
34:27in the Rajasaba
34:28which is currently
34:29Malikar Junkarge.
34:30Malikar Junkarge
34:31is also the
34:31AICC chief so
34:33it's quite simple
34:33really for
34:34Sidramaya as a
34:35veteran leader to
34:36get that particular
34:36position.
34:37So that's one
34:38possibility.
34:39So the placating
34:40of Sidramaya seems
34:41pretty clear and
34:42concrete.
34:43Now if Sidramaya
34:45stays the chief
34:45minister here's
34:46where it could get
34:47complicated for the
34:48Congress high
34:48command and this
34:49is perhaps why
34:50they've also taken
34:51a decision leaning
34:51towards D.K.
34:52Shuf Kumar.
34:53Placating D.K.
34:54Shuf Kumar if
34:55Sidramaya stays the
34:55chief minister is
34:57very very hard right
34:58now for the
34:58Congress high command.
34:59What could they
35:00do?
35:00Maybe offer D.K.
35:01Suresh, D.K.
35:02Suresh's brother a
35:03Rajasaba seat even
35:04make him leader of
35:05opposition which is
35:06very far-fetched
35:07because D.K.
35:07Suresh is not a
35:09veteran leader like
35:10a Sidramaya or a
35:11Malikar Junkarge.
35:12And then they could
35:12say that look more
35:13of your leaders will
35:14call the shots in the
35:15cabinet.
35:16When there's a
35:17reshuffle more of
35:18D.K.
35:18Suresh's aides could
35:19be inducted.
35:20But what about D.K.
35:21Suresh himself?
35:22What will you give
35:24him?
35:24What carrot can you
35:25dangle in front of him?
35:26He's already the
35:27deputy chief minister.
35:28He's already the
35:29KPCC chief.
35:30There's nothing left.
35:31He's got weighty
35:32portfolios.
35:33He's got water
35:33resources.
35:34He's got Bangalore.
35:35And so there's a
35:35big question mark on
35:36what they can offer
35:37him beyond what's
35:38already been given to
35:39him right now.
35:40He's at number two.
35:41Now if he's not been
35:42made number one,
35:43there's no place in
35:44between that.
35:45And so that really is
35:46a problem for the
35:47Congress high command.
35:48It looks like that's
35:49one of the reasons why
35:51they could have gone
35:51with scenario number
35:53one going by the
35:54information we have.
35:55And Professor
35:55Shastri, I'll bring
35:56you in on the point
35:57that Mr. R.K.
35:58Upadia made.
35:59Let's be very, very
35:59clear that the reason
36:01the Congress high
36:02command has pushed
36:03this as much as they
36:04could is because also
36:05this is a tough
36:06situation and tough
36:07not to crack.
36:08Now that they have
36:09taken a pick
36:10reportedly to placate
36:11Sidra Maya is going
36:12to be a challenge and
36:14they'll want to do
36:14that.
36:15They'll want to keep
36:15him happy.
36:16They'll want to keep
36:17him content as an
36:18OBC face for the
36:19party and also because
36:20of the weight influence
36:22that he carries in
36:22Karnataka.
36:25Akshita, I would
36:27agree with my
36:28co-panelist Ramakrishna
36:31here.
36:33Sidra Maya is a
36:34mass-based leader and
36:36he will be required to
36:38be persuaded to
36:39accept a
36:41leadership change.
36:43I'm not too sure
36:45whether the Congress
36:46would want to give
36:48somebody like Sidra
36:49Maya the leader of the
36:50opposition position in the
36:52Rajya Sabha because I
36:53don't think that's a
36:54position which the
36:55party would want
36:57Malikarjun Kharge to
36:58vacate and also the
37:00fact that that's a
37:01critical position in the
37:03Rajya Sabha and a
37:06person of the stature
37:07of Kharge would be
37:08required in that
37:09position.
37:10I'm sure there would be
37:12other positions which
37:13they could offer
37:14Sidra Maya as part of
37:15his national role.
37:18But again the challenge
37:20there is Sidra Maya has
37:21consistently maintained
37:22that I'm not interested
37:24in the national role and
37:26I want to remain in
37:27Karnataka and that's a
37:29factor we'll have to
37:30keep in mind.
37:30Now I'm also one of
37:32those who argues that
37:33if Sidra Maya were to
37:37step down the only
37:38alternative and if he
37:40agrees to step down and
37:42is willing not to create
37:44a political challenge the
37:46only alternative in that
37:47position would be Shiv
37:48Kumar and if Sidra Maya
37:51does not step down and
37:52continues as chief
37:53minister the high
37:55command would find it
37:56very difficult to
37:57placate Shiv Kumar who
37:59has been waiting in the
38:00wing.
38:00So it's a very dicey
38:02situation which the
38:03Congress high command
38:04finds itself in and
38:06that's possibly why they
38:07have delayed this
38:08decision so long and it
38:10would be a little more
38:11time before ultimately
38:12if as you say the
38:15dice seems to have been
38:16cast and Sidra Maya has
38:19been told that the
38:20chief ministership needs
38:22to change and he is
38:24taking his time the only
38:25alternative in that
38:27situation if accepted is
38:29Shiv Kumar becoming
38:30chief minister but the
38:31fact that Sidra Maya goes
38:33from that position without
38:35creating too much of
38:36political damage is what
38:38the high command is
38:39looking at.
38:40Now and I want to
38:40decode that in just a
38:41bit let's cut across to
38:42breaking news that's coming
38:43in I know there's a lot
38:44of speculation questions
38:46over what exactly Sidra
38:47Maya is up to after
38:49having left the Congress
38:50headquarters right after
38:51the announcement I can
38:52confirm for you that
38:53chief minister Sidra Maya
38:55is currently in a meeting
38:56with all of his close
38:57aides.
38:58Bhairati Suresh is there,
39:00Mahadev Appa is there,
39:01KJ George is there,
39:03a minister.
39:03They're all currently
39:04meeting in Delhi.
39:06Perhaps there's
39:07communication going across
39:08from Sidra Maya to his
39:09aides that look this is
39:11the communication I
39:11received from the high
39:12command, what should I
39:13do next?
39:14Very clearly even as the
39:16high command has
39:17reportedly communicated
39:18to Sidra Maya that
39:19look it's time to step
39:20down, we'll give you a
39:21different role, we'll give
39:21you a meaty role, we'll
39:22give you an influential
39:23role.
39:24Sidra Maya at this point
39:25is non-committal.
39:26Maybe because he also
39:27wants to meet his aides,
39:29understand what could be
39:30the best case scenario
39:31that really plays out for
39:32him now that the high
39:33command has communicated
39:34to him what they really
39:36want.
39:36But this meeting is
39:38currently underway.
39:39These were by the way
39:40the same leaders who
39:41were at that breakfast
39:42meet with Sidra Maya
39:43this morning.
39:44So they've been tracking
39:44very very closely what
39:46really emerges from this
39:48particular meeting as
39:49well.
39:50So we'll have to see
39:51what Sidra Maya's
39:52decision is.
39:53Expect that in the next
39:5424 hours there will be
39:56some movement but
39:58ultimately it will only
39:59come down to one man
40:00now which is Sidra Maya.
40:02Right up until now it
40:03was a question of which
40:04way the high command will
40:05go.
40:05Now it's a question of
40:07what Sidra Maya will
40:08decide but one of the
40:09aspects Mr. Upadia that
40:11was brought up in the
40:13course of this political
40:15thriller that we've been
40:16covering here on India
40:17today in Karnataka is
40:19what happens to DK
40:20Shiv Kumar if let's say
40:22the high command buckles
40:23under Sidra Maya's
40:24pressure says okay you
40:25will remain the chief
40:26minister right up until
40:272028.
40:28Do you see a rebellious
40:30DK Shiv Kumar then
40:31exploring his options
40:33outside of the Congress?
40:37Akshita before answering
40:38the question I would like
40:40to tackle the way
40:41Sidra Maya will react.
40:43You see look at the
40:45high command earlier has
40:46the way to bulldoze its
40:48way.
40:49You know we have been
40:49instances of stalwarts
40:51like Kengal Hanumanthaya,
40:53Devaraj Aras,
40:54Virendra Patil being asked
40:55to resign and the last
40:58one was yes Bangarappa and
41:00you know that turned out to
41:01be very very messy.
41:02That was the last time in
41:031992 when PV Nassimov
41:05asked him to go but still
41:07they were able to carry it
41:08out.
41:08Now this high command is
41:10not as strong as it was
41:12and you have a very strong
41:13chief minister in Sidra Maya
41:15so it's not going to be easy
41:16for them to impose their
41:18will as they used to do
41:20earlier and it's going to
41:21be a very big challenge you
41:23know for them if they're
41:25going to push him out but
41:26we'll have to see what they
41:28can offer to Sidra Maya,
41:30Rajasaba seat.
41:31I mean I don't think you'd
41:32be interested in that.
41:34Anyway let's see what he's
41:34going to do.
41:35Now coming to Shukumar,
41:37your question.
41:38See Shukumar now this is a
41:40bonanza being offered by
41:42the high command.
41:43Probably they think that
41:44you know he's young and
41:45he's capable of running the
41:47government and it's time
41:48for Sidra Maya to make way
41:50for a youngster so that you
41:52know he will take the party
41:53forward and there are 28
41:54assembly elections and 29
41:56looks of elections.
41:57But is he capable of
41:59taking everybody along?
42:02Because see he has not
42:03been able to increase his
42:04number of supporters of
42:06MLAs.
42:07Imagine.
42:08No but does that matter
42:09Mr. Upadia the reason I
42:10ask that is ultimately it's
42:12the high command's decision.
42:13I don't think there's been
42:14definitive camps created in
42:16the Karnataka Congress where
42:17we've seen all out
42:18rebellions.
42:18If that were to happen it
42:19would have happened by now.
42:21No no no.
42:21I think you just wait and
42:22see.
42:23You just wait and see what's
42:24going to happen because
42:25it's not so easy.
42:26It's not so easy to
42:27convince MLAs who are
42:29you know who are
42:30straight first supporters
42:32of Sidra Maya.
42:33You just wait for 24
42:35hours.
42:36Things will start happening.
42:37No but if Sidra Maya
42:39agrees sir.
42:39If Sidra Maya agrees you
42:40still think there will be
42:41an all out rebellion?
42:43No no.
42:43If Sidra Maya agrees to
42:44come to the centre.
42:45If he agrees to take the
42:46decision high command
42:47there's nothing.
42:48I mean it's nothing
42:49even smooth.
42:50But I don't see him
42:51taking it lightly.
42:53I don't see him accepting
42:54this at this point of
42:55time.
42:55So he might have been
42:56given more time to
42:57think about it.
42:59Possibly there will be
43:00more time given to him
43:01and that is the reason
43:02why the party has not
43:03announced the decision.
43:05So there could be some
43:07more discussions happening.
43:08That's also possible.
43:09But if he has been very
43:11clearly told that you
43:12have to step down you
43:13will see action beginning
43:14right now.
43:16Do you think so too
43:17Professor Shastri that
43:18largely because the MLAs
43:20are with Sidra Maya it
43:21could lead to a bit of
43:22a chuzzle in Karnataka
43:24itself.
43:24A bit of unease for the
43:26Congress.
43:28I would agree with
43:30Ramakrishna that a lot
43:31depends on how Sidra Maya
43:33is going to take the
43:35high command's suggestion.
43:38If he were to accept it
43:41and move forward I think
43:43there is no problem for
43:44the party.
43:44but I would also go with
43:48Ramakrishna that if you
43:50look at Sidra Maya as a
43:51leader and how he has
43:53worked in the past he is
43:55not that type to be allowed
43:58himself to be sidelined so
44:00easily.
44:01So I will not be surprised
44:02if there are some more
44:04acts left in this drama to
44:06be played out.
44:08It all now depends I think
44:10on the finesse with which
44:12the high command of the
44:14Congress party can handle
44:15the situation.
44:16I think a decision which
44:19a lot of people were
44:20saying should have
44:20happened or could have
44:22happened a few months ago.
44:24The fact that it has been
44:25delayed so much is because
44:26I think the high command
44:28must have been looking at
44:30how to take this forward
44:31and possibly they also
44:34would have over this time
44:35prepared Sidra Maya that
44:37this would happen we would
44:38ask you to step down.
44:40So I think we will have to
44:41wait and see but I will
44:42not I would not take the
44:45stand which Ramakrishna
44:46took that next 24 hours
44:48we will see a dramatic
44:49turnaround or could see
44:51dramatic development.
44:53No sir sir no so quickly
44:55quickly sir just also on
44:57what I asked Mr. Upadhyaya do
44:59you think there's a
44:59possibility of DK Shrikumar
45:01jumping ship if things don't
45:02go his way currently?
45:04You see the whole issue
45:07have been left hanging for
45:09so long that both sides
45:11now feel that Sidra Maya
45:14feels I should be allowed
45:16to complete my term.
45:17Shiv Kumar feels that there
45:19was a promise made and
45:20therefore it is my turn.
45:21So either way you are
45:23having challenges.
45:24The high command will have
45:25to deal with the situation
45:27of trying to assuage both
45:29sides which is a hugely
45:30complicated task and having
45:34had Shiv Kumar to wait and
45:35now tell him no wait for
45:37some more time would be
45:39another huge challenge for
45:41the party and I'm not too
45:43sure whether Shiv Kumar
45:44would take that line down.
45:46Okay gentlemen request both
45:48of you to stay with me.
45:49We've only had one Congress
45:51worth so far and that came
45:52from KC Vedakopal earlier
45:53who said all of this is
45:55speculation.
45:56End the speculation.
45:57The only conversation was
45:58over Rajasabhas seats and
46:00MLC seats.
46:01But then why were there
46:02one-on-one meetings with
46:03Sidra Maya?
46:03One-on-one meetings with
46:04D.K. Shiv Kumar.
46:06A marathon meeting that
46:07went on for six hours plus
46:08that involved Rahul Gandhi,
46:10Malikarjun Kargayi, KC Vedakopal,
46:12Randeep Surjewala.
46:13None of it adds up based on
46:16what the Congress maintains
46:17that this was just a meeting
46:19to decide on the Rajasabhas
46:20seats.
46:21But listen in to what KC Vedakopal
46:22said earlier.
46:26Today, we had a detailed meeting
46:30with Honorable Congress
46:32President Malikarjun Akadri Ji
46:34and LOP Rahul Gandhi Ji.
46:39Of course, CM Siddhara Maya Ji,
46:44Deputy CM D.K. Sheikh Kumar Ji
46:46and General Secretary in charge
46:47of Karnataka and myself
46:49be part of the discussion.
46:52Today, entire discussion is...
46:55Okay, okay.
46:59Okay.
47:01Okay.
47:07Shif Kumar's residence,
47:09a bit miffed that the media
47:11has followed him right up
47:12to his residence there.
47:13So he's told them,
47:14do not come here
47:16and ask me questions.
47:17So he's not going to comment.
47:19Very clearly, D.K. Shiv Kumar
47:21has sent across a message
47:22that right now,
47:22he's going to wait and watch
47:24to see what really plays out
47:26in the scheme of things as is.
47:28He will be happy
47:29with what happened today
47:30and the fact that the High Command
47:32has taken a decision
47:33in favor of him.
47:34But having said that,
47:35the next 24 hours is crucial
47:37to see whether the High Command
47:40doesn't have to go back
47:40on their word.
47:41Why will they have to go back
47:42if Siddhara Maya isn't on board?
47:45If Siddhara Maya digs in his heels
47:46and says,
47:46look, there's no question of me
47:48accepting any sort of deal.
47:49Rajas Abbas see it.
47:51I'm not okay with it.
47:51I want to remain the Chief Minister.
47:53That will be a catch-22 situation
47:55for the High Command.
47:55They simply cannot afford
47:57to irk Siddhara Maya.
47:58They'll want to ensure
47:59that they placate him
48:00and that nobody really is upset
48:02in any of these scams
48:04or, for that matter,
48:05any of these leaders.
48:06And so for Congress High Command,
48:08they're going to wait
48:09to see whether Siddhara Maya
48:10agrees to this deal or not.
48:12Next 24 hours,
48:13if Siddhara Maya agrees,
48:15then it's all hunky-dory
48:16for the Congress
48:17and their decision
48:18of naming D.K. Shiv Kumar
48:20will happen.
48:21If Siddhara Maya decides
48:22to object and say,
48:23look, I want to remain
48:24the Chief Minister,
48:25that means a stalemate
48:26back to square one
48:28for the High Command
48:28because they'll have to figure out
48:29what exactly needs to be done.
48:32But let's break down for you
48:33the takeaways.
48:34As things stand,
48:35it's status quo right now.
48:37And that's because
48:38the Congress High Command
48:39in their announcement,
48:40in their communication,
48:41made it very, very clear
48:42that nothing has changed.
48:44Status quo remains.
48:46Why?
48:46Because at this point,
48:48no change has happened.
48:50Rahul Gandhi has made it
48:52very clear at this point
48:53that no decision
48:54will be communicated.
48:56Chief Minister Siddhara Maya
48:57has been told to step down,
48:59but that official communication
49:01hasn't come through.
49:02Why?
49:02Because he's not ready
49:03to step down just yet.
49:06At this point,
49:07despite all of the lobbying,
49:09D.K. Shiv Kumar
49:09hasn't gotten it his way.
49:11Why do I say that?
49:12Because there's been
49:12no announcement
49:13that's been made.
49:15He would have wanted
49:16this to be announced,
49:17put out in full public view
49:18that he is the chosen one.
49:19Right now,
49:20that hasn't happened.
49:21There's been one round
49:22of conversations
49:22in which the communication
49:23has gone across to Siddhara Maya
49:25that he has to step down,
49:26but it hasn't moved forward
49:28beyond that.
49:31So as we get to
49:32all of the details,
49:34the High Command right now,
49:36it's not clear.
49:37And let's change that.
49:38The High Command,
49:39it's not clear
49:39whether they're choosing
49:40continuity or change.
49:42They're still waiting
49:43to see which way
49:44really this will go.
49:45in the sense,
49:46what will be the communication
49:47that will come across
49:49relay from Siddhara Maya.
49:51That will decide
49:52exactly which way
49:54this will go
49:54because our sources
49:55have told us
49:56that the High Command
49:57has asked Siddhara Maya
49:58to step down
49:59at this point.
50:00So in the next few hours,
50:02we should know
50:03which way this will go,
50:04whether Siddhara Maya
50:05will be placated
50:06or whether he will remain
50:08the Chief Minister.
50:09If he decides
50:10to put up a fight,
50:11let's be very clear
50:12that in that kind
50:13of the circumstance,
50:14it will be essentially
50:16a decision
50:17that the High Command
50:18will have to pick
50:19between D.K.
50:20Shivkumar and Siddhara Maya.
50:21D.K.
50:22Shivkumar has been
50:22extremely patient
50:23for the last many months.
50:25The question is,
50:26how long will he remain
50:27patient for?
50:28Because if it doesn't
50:29happen right now,
50:30if he doesn't become
50:31the Chief Minister
50:32right now,
50:33there's no chance
50:34for him right up
50:35until 2028.
50:36Let's be very,
50:37very clear about that.
50:38It's now or never.
50:38It's do or die
50:39for D.K.
50:40Shivkumar's CM ambitions.
50:42I'd like to thank
50:43RK Upadia
50:43and Sandeep Shastri
50:44for joining us
50:45on this broadcast.
50:46What's very,
50:47very clear is that
50:48this may be the climax
50:49of the Karnataka
50:51political thriller,
50:51but what's been
50:52a very,
50:53very long chapter
50:54with many,
50:54many parts,
50:55the climax too,
50:56is one that's going
50:57to drag on
50:57for the next
50:58many,
50:59many days.
50:59Because the High Command
51:00may have taken
51:01their pick,
51:01what's very clear
51:02is that at this point,
51:04Sidhara Maya
51:04has to come on board.
51:06That could take
51:06a bit of time.
51:07We're going to continue
51:08tracking all the latest
51:09on that.
51:10Tamil Nadu Chief Minister
51:11Vijay will be visiting
51:12Delhi tomorrow
51:13and will be meeting
51:14with Prime Minister Modi.
51:16The last time
51:17Vijay met
51:18Prime Minister Modi,
51:18the situation
51:19was very,
51:20very different.
51:21Those pictures
51:21are on your screens.
51:23Vijay was,
51:23of course,
51:24an actor,
51:25superstar,
51:26yes,
51:26but no political
51:27plans back then.
51:28Prime Minister Modi
51:29himself wasn't
51:30the Prime Minister then.
51:31This was back
51:32on April 16,
51:332014,
51:34in Coimbatore,
51:35when Modi
51:36was a Prime Ministerial
51:37candidate,
51:38was campaigning
51:39ahead of the elections.
51:41Vijay then had said
51:42that this was just
51:42a courtesy meet.
51:44Ten years later,
51:45when he started
51:46the TVK,
51:47one of his primary targets
51:49has been Prime Minister
51:50Modi's party,
51:51who he refers to
51:52as his ideological enemy.
51:54And fast forward
51:54now to today,
51:55Vijay is Chief Minister,
51:57Modi is Prime Minister,
51:58and for the first time
52:00in 12 years,
52:01they meet in Delhi
52:02tomorrow.
52:03Why is this important?
52:04All eyes will be
52:06on this meet
52:06to see,
52:06of course,
52:07the body language,
52:08the takeaways
52:09of what is considered
52:10to be a courtesy meet,
52:11but also importantly,
52:12because this kind of
52:13sets the stage
52:15for what the relationship
52:16will be like
52:17between the centre
52:17and the state,
52:18between the BJP
52:19and the TVK.
52:21Considering that
52:21the DMK strategy
52:22was to always call out
52:23the BJP
52:24with an outsider narrative,
52:26a Delhi versus Tabernado,
52:28a Delhi versus Chennai narrative,
52:30the question is,
52:30will TVK
52:31carry that forward too?
52:36Let's cut across now
52:37to breaking news
52:38coming in from Tamil Nadu.
52:48The exodus continues
52:49into the TVK
52:50from AIA-DMK.
52:52Saki Subhaya
52:53has now joined the TVK
52:55and now the AIA-DMK,
52:56Emily,
52:56resigning.
52:57Remember that there were,
52:58in fact,
52:59a handful of them yesterday.
53:00Today,
53:01more in all five,
53:03five AIA-DMK MLAs
53:05have stepped down
53:07and joined hands
53:07with the TVK.
53:09So the AIA-DMK
53:10hit by another kind
53:11of rebellion
53:12that perhaps many
53:13didn't see coming.
53:14This,
53:14even as the TVK
53:16has denied
53:16all horse trading allegations.
53:18Remember that
53:19the AIA-DMK,
53:20DMK have all said
53:21that the TVK
53:22has introduced
53:23a horse trading culture
53:24in Tamil Nadu.
53:26There's also criticism
53:27from within
53:27because the left
53:28CPM Secretary
53:29Peace Shanmugam
53:30has called out
53:32the fact that
53:32you've got these
53:33AIA-DMK MLAs
53:34resigning one after another
53:35and joining the TVK
53:36saying this is not
53:38healthy politics.
53:39Horse trading,
53:40unfortunately,
53:41you may have seen
53:41in many parts of the country.
53:42It's not something
53:43that you see very often
53:44in Tamil Nadu politics,
53:45though that seems
53:46to be changing now.
53:47In Mission Majority,
53:49that TVK seems to be on.
53:51Pramod Madal
53:51is joining us
53:52with more details
53:53on this.
53:54So Pramod,
53:54give us a sense,
53:55really of how many
53:56leaders have quit now,
53:58how many bipoles
53:59will be necessitated
54:00as a result
54:01of this churn?
54:04Well, Akshita,
54:05to begin with,
54:06there's going to be
54:06five bipoles so far
54:07because CM Vijay
54:08who contested
54:09in Titchi East
54:09that has become vacant
54:10and now with three MLAs
54:12yesterday's resignation
54:12and now the fourth one,
54:14S.A.K. Subhaya,
54:15today morning,
54:15he resigned.
54:16He is from
54:17Amba Samudaram
54:17and what happened
54:18is that like?
54:19Now, Amba Samudaram
54:20and the other three
54:21constituencies
54:21have also been declared
54:23vacant by the Speaker.
54:24Everything happening
54:25pretty fast
54:26in the state of Tamil Nadu
54:27that is quite surprising
54:28and the important aspect
54:29is that as we speak,
54:30the AIDMK
54:31which broke into
54:32two factions,
54:32S.P. Velomani faction
54:33and EPS faction.
54:35Now, yesterday,
54:35five MLAs
54:36from S.P. Velomani faction
54:38moved back
54:38to EPS faction
54:39and now as we speak,
54:41another five
54:41have also moved
54:42while four have resigned.
54:44So that number
54:44is completely breaking down.
54:46Probably S.P. Velomani
54:47would be having
54:47a max of 10 numbers
54:49right now
54:49while others
54:50are going this way.
54:51This is a reason
54:52ERAPARI KE PANHISWAMI
54:53faction also met
54:54with the Speaker
54:54and called it out
54:55as open horse trading
54:57Akshita.
54:58Okay, Pramo,
54:59just stay with me.
55:00We're getting more details
55:01coming in
55:02on Chief Minister
55:03Vijay's agenda
55:04in Delhi
55:05come tomorrow.
55:06He's expected
55:06to be in Delhi
55:07for two days.
55:08We'll be here
55:09by late afternoon.
55:11We'll meet
55:11with Prime Minister Modi.
55:12What we're also hearing
55:13is that there's a possibility
55:15of Chief Minister Vijay
55:16meeting with Sonia Gandhi
55:17and Rahul Gandhi
55:19as well.
55:19These are largely
55:20courtesy meetings
55:21that are taking place
55:22but it's standard really
55:24for a newly elected
55:26Chief Minister
55:26to come to Delhi
55:27to meet with
55:28our union ministers
55:30to meet with
55:31the Prime Minister
55:32as well.
55:33What we're hearing
55:33is he will also meet
55:35with his allies
55:36with Sonia Gandhi
55:37and Rahul Gandhi
55:38in Delhi.
55:38He's expected to be
55:39in Delhi for two days
55:41and you can trust us
55:42here on India Today
55:43to get you all of
55:44the details,
55:45live updates
55:46as Vijay touches down
55:47in the National Capital
55:49a visit
55:49and a series of meetings
55:51that will be very,
55:52very closely watched.
55:53That's all we have time for
55:54in this edition of Super 6.
55:56Thanks very much
55:56for tuning in.
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