Shivakumar Wishes ‘Good Luck’ as Siddaramaiah Expresses Confidence in Completing Full Term

Bengaluru: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Tuesday wished Chief Minister Siddaramaiah “good luck” after the latter said he was confident of completing the full five-year term in office.

Earlier in the day, Siddaramaiah stated that he believed he would continue as chief minister for the entire term, while also noting that the final decision rests with the Congress high command.

Responding to questions from reporters about the chief minister’s remarks, Shivakumar said, “Let good things happen. I wish him all the best. Good luck.”

When asked whether Siddaramaiah’s statement could create confusion within the party, Shivakumar dismissed the suggestion and said the confusion existed only in the media. “We don’t have any confusion. You have confusion. I wish him all the best, good luck,” he remarked.

Shivakumar also congratulated Siddaramaiah on achieving a major milestone in Karnataka’s political history. On Tuesday, Siddaramaiah equalled the record of former chief minister Devaraj Urs as the longest-serving chief minister of the state.

In his second term, Siddaramaiah has completed 2,792 days in office, matching Urs’ record, and is set to surpass it on January 7. Marking the occasion, Shivakumar said, “I wish him success. May God bless him. I pray that God gives him good health and the opportunity to serve the people.”

The remarks come at a time when speculation about a leadership change has grown within the ruling Congress. The government crossed the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20, reviving discussions about a possible power-sharing arrangement between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, reportedly agreed upon during the formation of the Congress government in 2023.