Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh) [India], November 27 : Amid talks about who will be the next Karnataka Chief Minister, Congress leader V. Gurunadham said that both Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar are qualified for the CM post and it will be decided by the High Command only.
"It has to be solved by the AICC. Through news items and social media, there seems to be a conflict between Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar. We remember it was agreed that both will be the CM for 2.5 years each, but it was the word of the (Congress) High Command and no written word... It will be decided by the High Command only... Both Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar are qualified to be CM... The demand will be placed before Rahul Gandhi and it will be settled shortly, but in the meantime, Siddaramaiah's supporters - Congress MLAs and DK Shivakumar's supporters are moving to Delhi... This will not give a good message to the people...," the Congress leader told ANI.
Earlier, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that he will visit Delhi if the party high command calls him.
"If the high command calls, I will go to Delhi," Siddaramaiah told reporters.
This comes after Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge stated that a decision regarding the speculated tussle in the state will be made after a discussion among the high command, CM Siddaramaiah, and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar.
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Mallikarjun Kharge stated that the decision regarding the CM post will be a collective one.
"I will call everyone and have a discussion. Rahul Gandhi will also remain present in that discussion. Other members will also remain present. CM and Dy CM will also remain present. The decision will be made after a discussion with all of these. There is a team. I am not alone. The entire high command team will discuss and make a decision," he told reporters.
The speculation stirred as the Karnataka government reached the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20.