'Final stage of career': Siddaramaiah's son amid Karnataka CM change row; backs Satish Jarkiholi to lead

NEW DELHI: Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah’s son, MLC Yathindra Siddaramaiah, on Wednesday said that his father is at the fag end of his political career and should guide his colleague Satish Jarkiholi to lead Congress party. The comments come amid ongoing speculation about a possible leadership change in the state.

“My father, (Siddaramaiah), is in the final stages of his political career. Satish Jarkiholi must take the Congress forward,” Yathindra Siddaramaiah said at an event.



He made the remarks during the unveiling of the idol of Kanakadasa in Kappalaguddi village of Raibag taluk in Belagavi district.


Speculations are rife about a change of guard in the state when the Congress government reaches the halfway mark of its five-year term in November, referred to by some as the "November revolution".

Yathindra’s comments have triggered discussions in political circles. Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah has maintained that he will serve his full term and lead the party in the next assembly elections. Meanwhile, supporters of deputy chief minister and state Congress president DK Shivakumar continue to push for him to be given an opportunity to head the government, citing his role in strengthening the party.

However, Yathindra later clarified that his statement was not about leadership change in the state. "My statement was not about changing the Chief Minister. Because Siddaramaiah sir said that after 2028, he will not contest elections, I only said that after him, someone who believes strongly in Congress ideology, which is social justice, secular ideology, should be able to lead the Congress party. That's all I have said," Yathindra Siddaramaiah said while talking to news agency ANI.

There has been speculation within state's political circles, especially in the ruling Congress, for some time now about a potential change in CM later this year, linked to a power-sharing agreement between incumbent Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D K Shivakumar.

Also read: Siddaramaiah will finish 5-year tenure as CM, says Yathindra

Meanwhile, Yathindra asserted last week that his father will finish his five-year term as the Karnataka CM in the best interest of the state. Yathindra clarified that there is no question of a leadership change. "CM Siddaramaiah will remain in office for five years. He enjoys full support from MLAs. If there was any discontent, legislators would have approached the high command," he said.

Select The Times of India as your preferred source on Google Search