Stop ‘misusing’ Siddaramaiah’s name, DKS tells Congress leaders

Urging Congress leaders to stop “misusing” the name of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister and KPCC president D.K. Shivakumar on Sunday said that there is no doubt about Mr. Siddaramaiah being the leader of the Congress.

Urging Congress leaders to stop “misusing” the name of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister and KPCC president D.K. Shivakumar on Sunday said that there is no doubt about Mr. Siddaramaiah being the leader of the Congress.

“Do not misuse the name of Mr. Siddaramaiah daily. He is our leader. He is needed for all elections, from zilla panchayat and taluk panchayat to Assembly and Lok Sabha polls. The party has made him Chief Minister twice. He is doing good work after becoming the Chief Minister for the second time,” Mr. Shivakumar told presspersons in a veiled attack on the Chief Minister’s followers, who have been stepping up pressure on the Deputy Chief Minister.

Mr. Shivakumar’s response came after his attention was drawn to statements from the Chief Minister’s followers that he was indispensable to the party. “Do not make statements using his (Mr. Siddaramaiah) name that could become fodder for the media.”

When asked if there was confusion in the Congress, he said no and that the party was keeping a watch on daily developments.

It may be noted that some of the followers of Mr. Siddaramaiah recently publicly demanded that he should be allowed to complete his full term as Chief Minister, so that there would be time for new leadership to emerge. Their statements had come in the wake of a speculated power sharing pact between the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister.

The KPCC president also said that dates have been asked from Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi to lay the foundation for 100 Congress offices. He also said that unless the land is registered in the name of the party, construction will not be taken up. “The building plan for the office to be constructed near Anand Rao Circle is also ready and foundation stone will be laid the same day.”

L.R. Shivarame Gowda, former MP, who was in BJP, and Brijesh Kalappa, who was in the AAP, joined the Congress on Sunday. In response to a question if more leaders were joining, Mr. Shivakumar said: “There is a long list. We have to decide about some inclusion after holding discussion with local leaders.”