Bengaluru, March 3 Amid the "leadership tussle" in Karnataka, state Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar emphasized "unity" within the Congress on Tuesday, stating that he and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah are like "milk and honey."
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Shivakumar praised Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for his clarification on allegations of phone tapping by opposition leaders, stating that the CM had spoken with experience and had closely observed him.
"The relationship between the two of us is certainly like milk and honey. Time will answer everything," the Deputy CM said.
Further clarifying his position on the Chief Minister's post, Shivakumar said he had not discussed the issue until now.
Shivakumar announced that he would be organizing a dinner on March 10 to mark the completion of six years as the President of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee.
Regarding his continuation as KPCC president, Shivakumar said that new leadership should emerge.
Shivakumar further responded to the allegations of phone tapping raised by Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, asserting that he had never spoken about destabilizing the leadership and emphasizing unity within the Congress party.
"There are 175 MLAs and MLCs in the Congress party, and I questioned the political narrative surrounding leadership changes. Referring indirectly to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he remarked, "Didn't Modi Saheb become Prime Minister? Didn't he rise to that position without any background in the state?"
On the issue of a possible change in the Chairman of the Legislative Council, he said he would discuss the matter with the Chief Minister.
Siddaramaiah had made the statement on Tuesday while dismissing allegations by Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka that phones were being tapped to monitor Deputy Chief Minister and State Congress President D.K. Shivakumar. He had called the charges "baseless" and politically-motivated.
He alleged that ever since the Congress returned to power in the state, Opposition leaders had been attempting to create a rift between him and Shivakumar.
"As much as they try to sow discord, it will not affect the cordial relationship we share," the Chief Minister said, asserting that both he and Shivakumar remained committed to the party's high command.