‘So-and-so never named': Siddaramaiah clarifies son’s successor comment; claims remark 'twisted'

NEW DELHI: Karnataka chief ministerSiddaramaiah on Friday dismissed reports that his son Yathindra Siddaramaiah had named a successor, saying the remarks were “twisted” and that Yathindra had merely spoken about principles.“I spoke to him (Yathindra) and asked what exactly he had said. He told me he spoke only about principles and did not say that ‘so-and-so’ should become chief minister,” Siddaramaiah told reporters in Bengaluru, as quoted by PTI.The clarification came after Yathindra’s statement earlier this week stirred speculation within the Congress over the leadership question in Karnataka. Speaking at Chikkodi in Belagavi district on Wednesday, Yathindra had said, “He (Siddaramaiah) is at the fag end of his political life. At such a time, a leader is needed to guide and lead those who have progressive thinking, ideologically.” He went on to praise Minister Satish Jarkiholi as a leader with similar ideological commitment, calling him a “role model” for young politicians.The remarks were widely interpreted as an attempt to project Jarkiholi as Siddaramaiah’s political successor, amid renewed speculation that deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar might take over the top post in November as part of an informal “rotational chief minister” understanding reached in 2023. Siddaramaiah, however, has repeatedly said he intends to complete his full five-year term.When asked why such statements were being made at a sensitive time, the chief minister retorted, “You people do not stay quiet and keep asking such questions despite saying ‘no’.”Deputy chief minister Shivakumar, meanwhile, refrained from commenting directly on Yathindra’s remarks. “I am not going to speak now, but I will speak to whomever it is that should be spoken to,” he told reporters, when asked if disciplinary action was being considered.Earlier, two Congress MLAs — H D Ranganath and H A Iqbal Hussain — were served notices for suggesting that Shivakumar should become chief minister. Yathindra later clarified that there was no discussion within the party about a leadership change, calling the reports “mere speculation.”