Will not blackmail, says Karnataka Congress Chief DK Shivakumar before flying to Delhi

Bengaluru: Before emplaning to New Delhi, Karnataka Congress President DK Shivakumar on Tuesday said he would not backstab and blackmail anyone.

"In politics, everything has to be considered. Without roots, there are no fruits ... Ours is a united house, our number is 135. I don't want to divide anyone here. Sonia Gandhi is our role model and high command will decide the CM face.

"If I am eligible, they will give me the responsibilities. Whether they like me or not, I am the party president and a responsible person. I will not backstab and blackmail as I don't want to go to the wrong history and bad remark," he told reporters here.

Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah are frontrunners for the chief minister's post. Both have been eyeing for the coveted post ahead of 2023 assembly election.

Between the two, Shivakumar has been a very vocal chief ministerial aspirant as he has been sending strong message to the party high command after Siddaramaiah claimed to have the support of more number of legislators.

On the contrary, Siddaramaiah has remained tightlipped and did not interact with reporters. He flew to Delhi on Monday evening in a special flight and met top AICC leaders.

Shivakumar, who had booked a ticket to fly to Delhi last evening, abruptly canceled the travel citing health issues, fuelling speculations that all is not well in the party.

Interestingly, Siddaramaiah has been in Delhi since Monday.

Meanwhile, Congress party's central observers, who were sent to Karnataka to oversee the Congress Legislature Party meeting, have submitted their report to the AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge.

Knowing the nuances of caste politics of Karnataka, may put the ball in Sonia and Rahul Gandhi's court to announce the name of the next chief minister after consulting them.

The Congress party came to power with a thumping majority in the 224-member Karnataka assembly. The party ousted the BJP government by winning 135 seats.

The BJP, which emerged as the single-largest party in the 2018 assembly elections with 104 seats, failed to woo voters in the 2023 polls. (UNI)