'99% chance...': Congress MLA predicts Shivakumar will be Karnataka CM
What's the story
H A Iqbal Hussain, a Congress MLA from Ramanagara, has predicted that Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar will become the Chief Minister of Karnataka on January 6. He said that the current CM, Siddaramaiah, should vacate the post for Shivakumar. "There is a 99% chance that he becomes chief minister on January 6," Hussain told reporters.
Date speculation
Hussain suggests possible dates for leadership transition
When asked about the significance of the date, Hussain said it was just a random number. "It can either be January 6 or 9. These are the two dates," he added. This isn't the first time Hussain has pushed for Shivakumar to take over as CM; he had also made his demand public on Friday.
Rival support
BJP MP backs Parameshwara for Karnataka CM
Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for Railways and Bharatiya Janata Party MP V Somanna has extended his support to Home Minister G Parameshwara for the CM post. Speaking at an event in Tumakuru, Somanna said he never expected Parameshwara to remain just a Home Minister. "It is our wish to see him as CM," he added.
Upcoming meeting
Congress leaders to meet Sonia Gandhi amid leadership tussle
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM Shivakumar will meet Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi in Delhi. This comes amid their ongoing tussle over the CM's post. The meeting is expected to coincide with a Congress rally at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi as part of its "Vote Chor Gaddi Chhod" campaign against alleged collusion between the BJP and the Election Commission.
Majority hold
Congress holds majority in Karnataka Assembly
The Congress has a comfortable majority with nearly 140 MLAs in the 224-member Karnataka Assembly. The leadership tussle has intensified since the party crossed the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20. There are reports of a possible agreement to split the CM's tenure for two-and-a-half years each as part of a generational transition, but neither party nor leader has confirmed such an arrangement.