D K Shivakumar, Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister, stated on Saturday that no one in the party should discuss any power-sharing “agreement or formula” between him and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, as there was none. He did, however, state that they were working with some “political understanding” . This revelation from Shivakumar, who is also the state Congress chairman, came days after Siddaramaiah denied that they have a power-sharing agreement.
“No one should talk about any oppanda (agreement). There is no formula (power-sharing formula) or anything. We are both working with some political understanding. I have never spoken about any formula, there is nothing. What I told the national channel is we have come to some understanding.
“The CM has been entrusted with some responsibility and I’m entrusted with some. I’m functioning accordingly,” Shivakumar said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, “There is no need or there is no situation for anyone to speak about any formula. I have already said that whatever CM has said is final, and it (matter) is now closed or finished.” Shivakumar had reportedly told a news channel recently that there was an agreement between them, before coming to power, to which Siddaramaiah on Wednesday said there was no such agreement, and that he would abide by the high command’s decision.
Home Minister G Parameshwara rejected the prospect of a power-sharing arrangement involving the CM and Deputy CM before Congress formed a government on Thursday, saying that the high command will finally make a decision that everyone will follow. Following the announcement of the Assembly election results in May last year, there was fierce struggle for the position of chief minister between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, and the Congress was able to persuade the latter to become deputy chief minister.
Some reports at the time said that a deal had been made based on a “rotational chief minister formula,” under which Shivakumar would become CM after two and a half years, but this has not been formally verified by the party.Shivakumar has made no secret of his desire to become Chief Minister.
