Karnataka Legislative Assembly | Photo credit:
The power struggle in the ruling Congress has led to the opposition making fun of him in the ongoing session.
It started with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah complaining that the position of his chair made it uncomfortable for him to stand and speak. He asked the house staff to pull it down a few centimeters. This prompted SL member Bhoj Gowda to remark that it was a very bad state if “the chief minister’s chair was uncomfortable”. Member Chalavadi Narayanaswamy said the chief minister’s seat appeared to be “unstable”. The Chief Minister replied that his chair was stable and asked the MP to check his.
On another occasion, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar’s gesture to ask the opposition bench for cooperation in getting permission for the Mekedatu project also led to opposition leaders being quick to point out a “change in his behaviour”.
When Arvind Bellad mentioned the Mekedatu project, Mr. Shivakumar appealed to the opposition benches with folded hands to cooperate with the government to get permission.
BJP members Sunil Kumar and Suresh Kumar were quick to question whether the Congress’s “power struggle” and aspirations for the top post had changed its generally aggressive nature. He even adapted a popular tune to talk about his desire for an “invisible chair.” Mr. Shivakumar replied with a big smile.
Published – 11 Dec 2025 19:12 IST
