Karnataka CM change buzz: BJP alleges Siddaramaiah, DK Shivakumar trying to mobilise MLAs' support; claims 'horses ready for sale'

NEW DELHI: Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday claimed that Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar are trying to woo MLAs within Congress amid speculations over power tussle for the top job in the state.

Union minister Pralhad Joshi claimed that both Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah are trying to mobalise MLAs' support with money and power.

"DK Shivakumar and CM Siddaramaiah are engaged in horse trading. Siddaramaiah claims to have more support. He is trying to mobilise MLAs' support with money and power. Our intention is that they should complete a 5-year term as they have the full mandate," news agency ANI quoted Joshi as saying.

"Horses are ready for sale in the market, and buyers are also ready. I want to make it clear that earlier, we were short of 9 seats, and we were the single largest party. The mandate was with us. Now they have a mandate and should run the government without any problem. The Congress High Command is weak. Now, the situation is such that the one who gets MLA support will be the CM. Hence, both DCM DK Shivakumar and CM Siddaramaiah are involved in the trading of horses," he added.

Earlier, Congress MLA Vijayanand Kashappanavar accused BJP of planning to topple the government in Karnataka and has prepared a list to target 55 legislators through central agencies.

"You are seeing ED, CBI raids. Why are they happening? It is to fear our MLAs that, if they don't go to BJP, they will be raided. Such fear is there among all MLAs including me. Let them do anything, I'm ready for it," Kashappanavar said.

"The BJP has prepared a list of 55 MLAs to threaten them with CBI raids. The BJP agents have been sent to several (Congress) MLAs' houses already to threaten them that if they don't join their party, ED and CBI raids will be done against them, as there were illegal assets in their name. I won't fear such things," he added.

This comes amid the ongoing buzz around a potential power shift in Karnataka, an issue that has resurfaced despite repeated denials from the Congress high command.

Fresh calls have emerged within the party demanding Shivakumar’s elevation to the top post just days after the Congress leadership publicly asserted there would be no change in Karnataka’s leadership.

Two Congress MLAs have now voiced their support for Shivakumar. Senior leader and former minister Tanveer Sait said the party must remain open to leadership changes. Earlier, Congress MLA HA Iqbal Hussain triggered speculation by claiming Shivakumar could be made chief minister within two to three months.

The Congress high command has attempted to quash the rumours. Kharge recently clarified that no proposal for a reshuffle is under consideration and assured that the media would be informed if any decision was made.

Despite the official denials, murmurs of an internal review continue. Some ministers are reportedly under scrutiny over performance and corruption-related complaints, though no confirmation has come from either the state government or the party leadership.