Congress high command will decide on who will be the CM: Shivakumar

Conveying good wishes to the people of the state and all political parties for the New Year, Karnataka Congress President DK Shivakumar, however, wished that the Congress comes to power.

Hubballi (Karnataka): Karnataka Congress President DK Shivakumar on Monday said the party's high command will decide, who the Chief Minister will be in the event of the party coming to power in the ensuing Assembly elections, which are likely in April or May. Conveying good wishes to the people of the state and all political parties for the New Year, he, however, wished that Congress comes to power.

"I wish good for the media and people of the state for the New Year, I also wish good for all parties, but we (Congress) should get the power," Shivakumar said. Speaking to reporters here, in response to a question, he said, "It is not that I should become the Chief Minister, it will be decided by the high command. Mallikarjun Kharge (AICC President), Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi (former AICC President) will decide."

With Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah, too, along with Shivakumar nursing chief ministerial ambitions in the event of the party coming to power in the state, there seems to be a game of political one-upmanship, between the two leaders as the election nears. The Congress appears to be a divided house, with supporters of both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar often openly projecting their leaders as the next Chief Minister.

Calling the BJP "university of lies" on the Mahadayi river water issue, Shivakumar said, "For three-and-a-half years they (BJP) couldn't do anything, despite their government in Maharashtra...they have taken most of our MLAs through 'Operation Lotus' in Goa and are in power there, too, as they did here in Karnataka."

"Without doing anything for three years, as we are preparing to raise a voice on the issue, instead of giving necessary clearances they have now issued a draft note...They (Centre) have put a rider pointing to the Supreme Court's final order on the issue, instead of getting the cases filed in the SC withdrawn," he said, adding despite having 25 BJP MPs from the state, they did not meet the PM on the issue even once to get the work started.

"Who is going to stop you (Karnataka government) from taking up work within your state, with your money," he questioned the ruling BJP. Condemning the "delay" by the BJP government in getting the necessary approvals for the Mahadayi project, the Congress today is holding a massive rally in Hubballi to highlight the issue. Recently, the Union government approved Karnataka's detailed project report (DPR) on the Kalasa-Banduri (Mahadayi) project, which was opposed by Goa.

Karnataka wants to use the Mahadayi river water from its tributaries Kalasa and Banduri to supply water to drought-hit districts of north Karnataka. The proposed project will use 3.9 tmc water--2.18 tmc from Banduri and 1.72 tmc from Kalasa river canals--for drinking water needs.