Latest news with #Sidda-DKS
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Sidda-DKS rift casts shadow over stability of Karnataka govt
Sidda-DKS rift casts shadow over stability of Karnataka govt (Picture credit: ANI) BENGALURU: Congress in Karnataka is heading into a critical phase as internal tensions between CM Siddaramaiah and deputy, DK Shivakumar , escalate, raising concerns about the stability of the govt and the party's long-term prospects, reports Manu Aiyappa Kanathanda. At the heart of the conflict is the unresolved issue of a change of guard. An unwritten understanding is believed to have been reached when Congress formed the government in May 2023 - that Siddaramaiah would serve as CM for two-and-a-half years, after which Shivakumar would take over. If honoured, this transition would take place in Nov. However, with no official word from party high command and no signs of preparation for a handover, the issue is becoming increasingly contentious. Both netas remain indispensable to Congress in Karnataka - Siddaramaiah with his Ahinda (backward classes, minorities and Dalits) clout and administrative experience, and Shivakumar with his fundraising abilities and control over the organisation. Buoyed by loyal support, Siddaramaiah is showing no signs of stepping aside. Instead, he is consolidating his position and intends to serve a full term, sources say. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like One of the Most Successful Investors of All Time, Warren Buffett, Recommends: 5 Books for Turning... Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Click Here Undo This has left Shivakumar's camp testy. The latest face-off was the transfer of engineers from the water resources department which he oversees. Shivakumar's decision to record his displeasure in writing marks a significant shift. Sources say the move signals a deliberate attempt to assert his position. "The fact that he put it in writing is a message to the party," said a senior Congress functionary. "He's not going to remain passive as the CM strengthens his grip." It is said Shivakumar views the reassignments as an effort to weaken his administrative authority. The timing of the rift, too, is significant. "Siddaramaiah believes these developments are part of a larger plan to push him out. His focus now is to prove that his leadership remains strong and that he can withstand political and personal attacks," said an MLA from Bengaluru.
Time of India
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Transfers spur 1 more Sidda-DKS turf war
Transfers spur 1 more Sidda-DKS turf war BENGALURU: The uneasy power-sharing equation between Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar flared up again - this time, over the transfer of five senior engineers - adding fresh fuel to a series of bureaucratic flashpoints between the state's top two leaders. It has now emerged that Shivakumar, who also holds water resources department, formally objected to the May 9 transfer orders issued by the department of personnel and administrative reforms (DPAR), which operates under CM's direct control. In a letter to chief secretary Shalini Rajneesh, deputy CM directed her to "immediately withdraw" the transfers, saying the decisions were made without his approval. The chief secretary is yet to respond to Shivakumar's letter. CM has also not responded publicly to Shivakumar's objections, but the move is being widely interpreted in political circles as another sign of the deepening rift between the two Congress heavyweights. The engineers, all from the public works department (PWD), were reassigned to key posts within the water resources department. Shivakumar took exception to the way transfers were executed. In a written note, he reminded the chief secretary that Congress leadership had reached a foundational agreement when the government was formed: "No transfers or appointments related to my department should be made without my approval. These transfers have been carried out without any reference to the minister concerned," Shivakumar wrote, warning that such moves violate protocol and undermine ministerial authority. One of the engineers affected, BH Manjunath, currently posted with the police housing corporation, is due to retire on May 31. The DPAR's order, however, instructed a replacement engineer to report to the post in advance, further raising eyebrows in Shivakumar's office.
