R Ashoka Slams Siddaramaiah for Defying Congress Leadership with Full-Term Claim

Karnataka’s Leader of Opposition and BJP leader R Ashoka launched a sharp attack on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday, accusing him of openly challenging the Congress high command.

The BJP leader criticised Siddaramaiah for repeatedly asserting that he would serve a full five-year term, despite the ongoing speculation about an internal power-sharing arrangement within the party.

In a series of critical remarks, Ashoka described Siddaramaiah’s public statements as a direct challenge to the authority of the Congress leadership.

“When a sitting CM keeps asserting his term while conveniently ignoring internal party understandings, it’s not confidence, it’s defiance,” Ashoka remarked.

CM Siddaramaiah Asserts His Full Term

The comments from the BJP leader came a day after Siddaramaiah stated that there should be “no doubt” about him completing the full term as chief minister.

His remarks came amid rumours that Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar may replace him halfway through the government’s tenure, as part of an informal agreement reached within the party after the 2023 Assembly elections.

Congress High Command’s Silence Questioned

Ashoka also questioned the silence of the Congress top brass, including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and party president Mallikarjun Kharge, over what he described as Siddaramaiah’s open defiance.

Taking to social media platform ‘X’, Ashoka posted, “Is the high command’s will just symbolic now? Has Siddaramaiah already declared independence from party hierarchy?”

The BJP leader accused Siddaramaiah of not only disregarding his deputy, DK Shivakumar, but also publicly undermining the authority of the Congress leadership.

“By rejecting the power-sharing formula and stating ‘why should there be a doubt,’ Siddaramaiah isn’t just ignoring his deputy, he’s undermining the authority of the Gandhis and Kharge in full public view,” Ashoka alleged.

Mocking Congress Leadership

Referring to Mallikarjun Kharge’s recent statement where he reiterated that the decision on leadership lies with the party high command, Ashoka questioned the Congress’s ability to control its chief minister.

“If the high command had any real control left, would it allow its CM to go rogue like this?” he asked.

In a sarcastic tone, Ashoka further commented on the state of affairs within the ruling party. “Perhaps in Karnataka, it’s not loyalty or leadership that decides the CM’s chair, it’s lottery and luck,” he added.

Defiance or Confidence?

Ashoka described Siddaramaiah’s repeated declarations as more than just displays of confidence.

According to him, the chief minister’s “chest-thumping” about completing a full term reflects open defiance of the Congress’s internal agreements.

He noted that while Siddaramaiah’s statements appear confident on the surface, they reflect a blatant disregard for party commitments.

Siddaramaiah had on Wednesday once again asserted that he would remain in office for the entire term, despite the ongoing speculation about a possible leadership change within the Congress later this year.

Background of Power-Sharing Formula

The power struggle between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar has been an open secret since the Congress returned to power in Karnataka after the Assembly elections in May 2023. Both leaders were contenders for the chief minister’s post at the time.

Eventually, the Congress convinced DK Shivakumar to take up the role of deputy chief minister, reportedly based on an informal rotational chief minister arrangement.

According to these reports, Shivakumar was expected to take over as CM after two-and-a-half years. However, the Congress has never officially confirmed such an agreement.

BJP’s Continued Attacks

The BJP has repeatedly highlighted the perceived rift within the Congress, using it as a tool to target the ruling party’s leadership.

Ashoka’s latest remarks add to the growing criticism aimed at the Congress high command’s handling of internal matters and its alleged inability to enforce party discipline.

With Siddaramaiah continuing to publicly assert his intent to complete a full term, and the Congress leadership remaining silent on the issue, questions over the party’s internal control persist.

Ashoka’s sharp attack has once again brought the spotlight back on the Congress’s internal dynamics and the speculation over the future of the Karnataka leadership.