Amid Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s reported efforts to get the Congress high command’s nod for a cabinet reshuffle, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly R. Ashok on Monday claimed that Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar would be sidelined if the Congress high command cleared the cabinet reshuffle.
In an apparent reference to the alleged power-sharing deal under which the Deputy Chief Minister is to replace Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Mr Ashok said the chances of Mr Shivakumar becoming Chief Minister would be slim if the high command agreed to a cabinet reshuffle. Referring to Mr. Shivakumar’s recent visits to temples, Mr. Ashok noted that, “Going to temples and performing poojas will be futile if there is a cabinet reshuffle.”
Seeking to refute the Congress leaders’ claims that their visits to Delhi had nothing to do with the change in leadership, Mr. Ashok wondered why they had gone to Delhi then. “Even the DK brothers (DK Shivakumar and his brother DK Suresh) have camped in Delhi. If the issue of changing the chief minister has not come up, then why is everyone meeting AICC president Mallikarjun Kharg?” he asked.
“Problems of sugarcane farmers have not been solved, human-wildlife conflict has intensified, compensation for rain damage has not been provided. Instead of trying to solve these problems, Congress leaders are busy in musical chairs competition for the post of chief minister,” he said.
Mr. Ashok recalled that he had long predicted the November revolution, which would mean a change in the chief ministerial post.
Expressing concern over the number of black deaths at Chennamma Mini Zoo, he described it as a shocking matter and called upon Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre to respond. He demanded that the officials concerned should take precautionary measures so that similar things do not happen again.
Stating that the opposition BJP-JD(S) would raise issues related to the sugarcane farmers’ unrest and the law and order situation in the state during the upcoming winter session of the state legislature to be held in Belagavi, Mr Ashok said BJP leaders would consult Union Minister and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy in this regard.
Published – 17 Nov 2025 21:36 IST
