Amidst swirling speculations regarding a leadership change in Karnataka, Housing and Waqf Minister B.Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan has made a bold proclamation. Today, the Minister asserted that Siddaramaiah will remain the Chief Minister of Karnataka until the end of the current assembly's term in 2028, and "no one can unseat him."
"No Vacancy for the CM Post"
Speaking to reporters during a visit to the CCB office in Bengaluru, Zameer Ahmed Khan, a staunch loyalist of the Chief Minister, dismissed rumors of a mid-term power-sharing formula with Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar.
- The Timeline: Zameer clarified that Siddaramaiah was elected by the legislators and the High Command for a full five-year term.
- The Stand: "I have been saying this from the beginning. Siddaramaiah is the CM and he will continue until 2028. There is no question of him stepping down midway," he stated.
- On D.K. Shivakumar: While acknowledging Shivakumar's contributions, Zameer noted that while many want the DyCM to lead, that opportunity would only arise after 2028.
High-Level Dinner Diplomacy
This statement comes on the heels of several "dinner meetings" hosted by senior ministers like Satish Jarkiholi and G. Parameshwara, which have sparked intense political debate in the state. These meetings are largely seen as a show of strength by the Siddaramaiah camp to signal stability to the Congress High Command in New Delhi.
"The High Command's decision is final, and as of now, they have expressed full confidence in Siddaramaiah’s leadership. We are focused on governance, not chair-switching," Zameer added.
Political Friction within Congress
The Karnataka Congress has been divided into two camps since the 2023 victory:
- Siddaramaiah Camp: Argues for a full 5-year term to ensure the implementation of the "Five Guarantees."
- D.K. Shivakumar Camp: Points toward an alleged "2.5-year pact" discussed during the government formation in New Delhi.
