Siddaramaiah’s Grip on Power Weakening as Shivakumar Leads CM Race: BY Vijayendra
Karnataka BJP chief Vijayendra Yediyurappa stirred the political landscape on Saturday, suggesting that Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has emerged as the leading contender for the Chief Minister’s role within the Congress party. He indicated growing internal competition in the party, adding, “Shivakumar is currently at the forefront of the race for the top post.”
Vijayendra implied that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s influence is weakening and urged him to step down, citing an ongoing leadership tussle. He also highlighted Shivakumar’s recent religious rituals, conducted a day before Siddaramaiah inaugurated the Yettinahole water project, as a sign of the internal conflict.
According to Vijayendra, “This points to the instability of Siddaramaiah’s hold on power,” and he criticized the Congress party for struggling to accept potential leadership changes. He went on to accuse the Congress government of employing threats and conspiracies to maintain control, particularly against the BJP.
The BJP, meanwhile, has ramped up its criticism of the Congress government, especially over issues involving the Welfare Development Corporation and the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA). Vijayendra said that his party is ready to counter what he described as baseless accusations from the Congress.
Addressing the Yettinahole project, which is intended to provide water to Chikkaballapur, Kolar, and Tumkuru, Vijayendra acknowledged the importance of the initiative but questioned the massive rise in costs. He pointed out that the project’s initial budget was set at Rs 8,500 crore, but it has ballooned to around Rs 20,000 to Rs 22,500 crore. He questioned whether the project would fulfill its original objectives given the inflated expenses.
As political tensions in Karnataka escalate, the BJP continues to challenge the Congress government’s decisions and leadership, positioning itself as a strong opposition in the face of internal Congress dynamics.
