No Power Struggle in Karnataka Congress, Says CM Siddaramaiah
Chief Minister dismisses leadership change rumours, says media and BJP are creating unnecessary speculation.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday rejected claims of infighting within the Congress party, firmly stating that there is no competition or conflict over the Chief Minister’s post in the state.
Speaking to reporters in Mangaluru, Siddaramaiah said the rumours were being unnecessarily created by the media and the opposition BJP. He was responding to a question about a BJP social media post which claimed that a fight for the Chief Minister’s chair would resume in the Congress after the Sankranti festival.
“There is no fight. You (the media) are creating it. Where is the fight? You ask such questions without any reason,” the Chief Minister said.
Speculation about a possible leadership change gained momentum after the Congress government completed half of its five-year term on November 20. The rumours were also linked to the power-sharing understanding reached in 2023 between Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar at the time of government formation.
On the Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill, Siddaramaiah said he was ready to meet Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot to explain the legislation. This comes amid BJP plans to urge the Governor not to give his assent to the Bill.
“The Bill has been passed by the legislature. The Governor has neither rejected it nor returned it, and he has also not given assent yet. Whenever he calls me, I will go and explain,” Siddaramaiah said.
The Governor’s office had earlier stated that the Bill is currently under consideration. The proposed law предусматриes a jail term of one year, which can extend up to seven years, along with a fine of ₹50,000 for hate crimes. Repeat offenders could face up to seven years in prison and a fine of ₹1 lakh.
Commenting on the BJP’s proposed padayatra (foot march) from Ballari to Bengaluru over recent violence in Ballari, Siddaramaiah said the opposition was free to protest. “Let them do it. Who said they should not?” he remarked.
Referring to past Congress padayatras, Siddaramaiah recalled the 2010 march from Bengaluru to Ballari led by him as Leader of the Opposition to highlight illegal mining. He said that movement played a key role in Congress coming to power in the 2013 Assembly elections.
On the recent Ballari violence, the Chief Minister alleged that the removal of a banner related to the unveiling of a Maharshi Valmiki statue triggered the unrest. “If the banner was not removed, there would have been no provocation. What was the need to remove it?” he asked.
He accused BJP leaders, including former minister G. Janardhan Reddy and his associates, of trying to politicise the issue out of frustration after losing political influence in the region.
Tension erupted in Ballari on the night of January 1 after supporters of Congress MLA Nara Bharath Reddy and BJP MLA G. Janardhan Reddy allegedly clashed over the banner issue. The violence reportedly involved stone-pelting and firing, leading to the death of a Congress worker.
