Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and State Congress President D.K. Shivakumar addressed the ongoing leadership conflict, emphasizing the importance of following the party’s directives. Despite calls for him to be Chief Minister, Shivakumar stressed the need to adhere to the party’s stance as paramount. He acknowledged the various aspirations, including those favoring Home Minister G. Parameshwara for the role.
The leadership dispute in Karnataka escalated with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s son asserting that the Congress central leadership had not endorsed calls for a change. Yathindra Siddaramaiah’s statements, made in response to Congress MLA Shivaganga Basavaraj’s support for Shivakumar, have added complexity to the situation. Shivakumar, in turn, acknowledged Yathindra’s remarks, humorously referring to him as the “high command.”
Shivakumar also addressed the recent Metro fare hike, highlighting that the state government was not consulted on the decision. He mentioned a separate committee responsible for determining metro fares, led by a Union government secretary. Shivakumar assured a review of the financial implications upon his return to Bengaluru to prevent public inconvenience.
