LS polls 2024: 'Should I remain Chief Minister or not,' Siddaramaiah asks voters

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday urged the people of his Varuna assembly segment to give Congress candidate Sunil Bose a lead of at least 60,000 votes in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, to ensure that he remains in the post.

"In (last year's Karnataka) assembly election, you gave me a lead of 48,000 votes and made me win the elections. Now, you should give the same lead or more to our Congress candidate. Minimum, you should give us a lead of 60,000 votes and make him win. From Varuna constituency, (Minister HC) Mahadevappa and I are familiar faces," he said.

Siddaramaiah's statement gained significance amid persistent rumours about leadership change in the ruling Congress in the state after Lok Sabha polls or at mid-way of the current assembly's tenure.

"I am your representative. (My son) Yathindra is a former MLA. If you all give us a lead of 60,000 and make him (Sunil Bose) win, I will be happy. Nobody can even touch me. Should I remain (as Chief Minister) or not? Therefore, I request you all with my folded hands. I will come back to thank you after winning," he said.

Siddarmaiah's Varuna assembly segment comes under the



Chamarajanagar Lok Sabha constituency, from where Mahadevappa's son Sunil Bose is the Congress candidate.

On the other hand, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who has been open about his aspirations for the chief ministerial role, assured the people that the desire with which they supported the party in the Assembly poll in May last year, will not go in vain.

Campaigning for Congress candidate 'Star' Chandru in Mandya, Shivakumar said, "Today, I would like to convey just this much. You have all kept me in your thoughts and helped us win many seats in Mandya. Your aspirations won't go unfulfilled. You all need not worry about that."

As Congress romped to an emphatic victory, by winning 135 seats in the Karnataka assembly polls, there was stiff competition between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar for the Chief Minister's post. Ultimately, the Congress had managed to convince the latter and made him the Deputy Chief Minister.

There were some reports at the time that a compromise had been reached based on a "rotational Chief Minister formula", according to which Shivakumar will become the Chief Minister after two-and-half years, but the party dismissed them.