New Delhi:
Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar — who to date has been agency on his demand for the Chief Minister submit — is known to have informed occasion president Mallikarjun Kharge this night that he’s able to work as an “atypical MLA” if he doesn’t get the Chief Minister’s submit. Sources mentioned whereas Mr Shivakumar introduced his case for the highest submit, he had additionally identified that Mr Kharge himself, regardless of his stature and place, by no means grew to become a Chief Minister.
“I do not thoughts in case you grow to be the Chief Minister,” sources quoted him as telling Mr Kharge throughout their one-on-one this night.
Mr Shivakumar additionally mentioned he has not been informed that his arch-rival and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah would be the subsequent Chief Minister. Only his opinion was requested on the problem.
“If I don’t get the Chief Minister’s submit, I’m able to work as an atypical MLA. Ever since Siddaramaiah joined the occasion, he has at all times been in energy, both as an LOP or because the Chief Minister,” sources quoted him as telling Mr Kharge.
The Congress chief met the 2 contenders as we speak earlier than taking a name on the knotty query of who would grow to be the Chief Minister of Karnataka, a state the occasion received on Saturday with an enormous mandate. But the query of the highest submit has been giving the occasion a headache, in view of its implications for the overall election subsequent yr.
The occasion had despatched observers to fulfill the brand new MLAs individually and take their suggestions. There are experiences that Mr Siddaramaiah is the selection of a majority of the MLAs.
The crew has submitted its report and had a number of rounds of conferences with the occasion’s prime leaders.
Earlier as we speak, Mr Kharge and senior leaders Rahul Gandhi and KC Venugopal had a gathering to debate the state of affairs.
Mr Shivakumar has made It clear that his declare to the highest submit relies on his work in build up the occasion after its coalition authorities with HD Kumaraswamy’s Janata Dal Secular had collapsed following a mass occasion change by MLAs. But he additionally mentioned he wouldn’t resort to “blackmail”.
“Sonia Gandhi informed me, ‘I’ve confidence in you that you’ll ship Karnataka’. I’m sitting right here, doing my common duty. You ought to have the fundamental courtesy, a little bit of gratitude. They ought to have the courtesy to acknowledge who’s behind the win,” he had informed NDTV in an unique interview yesterday.
During conferences with reporters, he additionally claimed that he has the “numbers” – the variety of MLAs who would assist him on the Legislature Party assembly.
“Yesterday 135 MLAs have given their opinion and handed a one-line decision, few have expressed their private opinion. My energy is the 135 MLAs. Under my management, the Congress has received 135 seats,” he had mentioned.