Leadership change in Karnataka? Congress Ministers engage in volley of words about ‘seniority’ for Chief Minister’s post

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah's prosecution challenge sparks Congress leadership debate, with various leaders vying for the top post.

As Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's petition challenging the Governor's sanction for his prosecution in a site allotment case is being heard in the High Court, some Congress leaders seem to have chosen to weigh in for the top post in the event of leadership change. All Congress leaders and Ministers are, however, maintaining that Siddaramaiah will continue in the post.

A verbal duel of sorts has erupted between two senior Ministers — M.B. Patil and Shivanand Patil — about seniority as the yardstick to become the Chief Minister.

"There are people senior to me, but seniority is not the only yardstick. There is no question of change in Chief Minister now, Siddaramaiah is there as the Chief Minister, he will be there, and will continue in the future too, so the talk about changing CM is irrelevant," M B Patil said.

Speaking to reporters, he said, "However, in becoming the Chief Minister, seniority or juniority is not a major (yardstick). I'm also a senior in Congress, I'm in the Congress party even before 1991, it has been about 35 years now. So, I'm also a senior, but seniority is not the only yardstick."

"One day or the other, I will become the Chief Minister, I have desire, but don't have greed. As per Shivanand Patil's logic, if seniority has to be considered — he has said I will have to wait, let's agree to it. But, he has recently come to the party from Janata Dal, BJP, he is not in the line. From Vijayapura district, if someone has to become CM, it is me, no one else," he added, while rejecting Shivanand Patil's statement as "personal opinion".

Earlier, noting that he has no desire to become CM, Shivanand Patil, when asked if he supported M.B. Patil, said that there were many people who were senior to him in the party.

“There are many people who are seniors to him (M.B. Patil). Are there no seniors? He will have to wait, shouldn’t you wait when there are seniors?” he asked.