Congress leaders Siddaramaiah and D.K. Shivakumar hug each other while Rahul Gandhi looks on during the formerโs birthday celebration in Davangere in 2022.
| Photo Credit: File photo
Senior leaders and Ministers in the State Congress government, who are loyal to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, are planning a big bash on his birthdayย on August 12 in Hubballi, which has gained significanceย amid talk that Deputy Chief Minister and KPCC chief D.K. Shivakumar might stake claim to the Chief Ministerโs post after two-and-a-half years of this governmentโs tenure.
With Mr. Shivakumar making his Chief Ministerial ambitions clear on several occasions, speculation about a mid-term rejig has remained an undercurrent in the government.
Message to high command
Loyalists of the Chief Minister are expected to use theย birthdayย platform to send a message to the party high command about his popularity and the necessity of continuing him as the Chief Minister for the full five-year term.
Sources in the Congress said Ministers and loyalists of the Chief Minister such as H.C. Mahadevappa, Byrathi Suresh, K.N. Rajanna, Santosh Lad, and other AHINDA leaders have planned to hold the mega birthday bash to project Mr. Siddaramaiah as the โundisputed backward classes leaderโ of the State. It is planned as a โshow of strengthโ with leaders of backward class communities, minorities, and Dalit communities likely to be invited.
Message of unity
In fact, ahead of the State Legislative Assembly elections 2023, loyalists held a major function at Davangere on August 3, 2022, to mark the 75thย birthday of Mr. Siddaramaiah. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi attended the function, where both Mr. Siddaramaiah and Mr. Shivakumar hugged and sent out a message of unity to the party cadre.
A decade ago, in 2012, the Congress leaders, sensing victory in the 2013 Assembly polls, had celebrated Mr.ย Siddaramaiahโs 65thย birthdayย in a big way.
A few days ago (on June 27), Vokkaliga seer Chandrashekaranatha Swami had appealed toย Mr. Siddaramaiah to give up the Chief Ministerโs post to Mr. Shivakumar.ย And this appeal had resulted in a war of words between factions of the two leaders.
Later, both leaders appealed to their loyalists and seers not to make political statements that would damage the image of the government. Mr. Shivakumar also issued a stern warning, asking party functionaries to refrain from making public statements on leadership issues. He warned that disciplinary action will be taken against those who fail to comply.
