The Karnataka political scene is still replete with speculation about a possible leadership shift in the Congress government. Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, however, refused to comment on former Chief Minister M Veerappa Moily's remark that his becoming Chief Minister was imminent.
Shivakumar brushed off the remarks as Moily's individual opinion and reaffirmed party discipline commitment by quoting Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's order to leaders to stop talking about changes in leadership publicly.
Moily's observation on Sunday, when he described Shivakumar's ascension to chief ministership as a "settled matter" and one of "when, not if," has fuelled the ongoing speculation. Congress MLA Basavaraju V Shivaganga again set the pot boiling, claiming that Shivakumar would assume CM seat by December and rule Karnataka for the next 7.5 years.
These words come at a time when there have been persistent rumors of a "power-sharing deal" in Karnataka, with many assuming that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah would make way for Shivakumar during the second half of the term. While Congress leadership has stayed mum on the issue, the increasing number of voices within the party favoring Shivakumar's claim that he is ready to take the reins indicate that a change is imminent.
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