- 7/10/2025
Amid swirling speculation over a leadership change in Karnataka, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah told India Today TV he will remain in office for a full five-year term and lead Congress into 2028 polls.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Joining me now is the man himself.
00:02I appreciate your joining us, Mr. Siddharamaya.
00:05Big question mark.
00:06Is Mr. Siddharamaya going to complete his full five-year term?
00:09Or are you going to sometime later this year give up chief ministership
00:14and maybe D.K. Shiv Kumar takes over?
00:18That is the buzz.
00:19I already made it very clear that I am going to complete five-year term.
00:26I will be the chief minister for five years.
00:31I made it very clear on second of this month.
00:34I made this statement and I made this very clear.
00:41And Mr. D.K. Shiv Kumar was also there
00:44because on that day we were having a cabinet meeting.
00:51He was also there.
00:53So in front of you he said this,
00:55but since then Randeep Surjewala,
00:57General Secretary of Congress has been meeting MLAs
01:00both in Bangalore and Delhi
01:02and some of those MLAs have called for a change in leadership.
01:06No, it is not correct.
01:08See, so far as leadership is concerned,
01:12Mr. Surjewala has not asked any question
01:15about the change of leadership.
01:19But some MLAs have openly spoken about it.
01:21That is there always, some MLAs are there
01:25who are supporting D.K. Shiv Kumar.
01:30Of course, not much.
01:33Sir, there was reports that there was a commitment
01:36two and a half years Siddharamaya ji,
01:39two and a half years D.K. Shiv Kumar,
01:41five years to be divided.
01:42This was decided in 2023,
01:44apparently with the blessings of Sonia Gandhi
01:47and possibly Rahul Gandhi as well.
01:49No, it is not correct.
01:52See, what the High Command told us.
01:56Yes.
01:57What High Command told us
02:00that whatever decision taken by the High Command,
02:03you have to follow.
02:05See, that is what they said.
02:06Whatever the decision of the High Command,
02:08Malik Arjun Kharge also said that,
02:10that whatever decision the High Command takes
02:12will have to be accepted.
02:13So suppose High Command says
02:14that you have to step down?
02:16Our CSA High Command party.
02:20Whatever High Command takes a decision.
02:24Everyone has to follow the decision of the High Command.
02:28I will also follow.
02:30Mr. D.K. Shiv Kumar would also follow.
02:32High Command has given you any indication
02:34that you have to step down
02:35or that there will be a change?
02:36Malik Arjun Kharge has said anything to you?
02:38No.
02:39No.
02:40It is not correct.
02:42I, therefore then,
02:45why, what happens
02:46to all the MLAs
02:48who call for leadership?
02:49What, will you all take
02:50disciplinary action against them?
02:52I mean,
02:52is the Congress Party
02:53badly divided in Karnataka
02:55and is that affecting governance?
02:57Siddharamaya camp
02:58versus Shiv Kumar camp
02:59affecting governance in Karnataka?
03:01See,
03:03Surjavala asked all MLAs
03:06that how these guarantee schemes
03:10are implemented
03:11in your constituency.
03:16That is the main question
03:17asked by Mr. Surjavala
03:19to MLAs.
03:21And
03:21what are,
03:23what are the developmental works
03:25that you have taken
03:26in the constituency?
03:30And
03:30what,
03:32what do you want
03:33from the government?
03:34That's what...
03:35So you are saying
03:36the focus was on the guarantees.
03:38Now,
03:38many say that
03:39these guarantees
03:39are bankrupting
03:41your exchequer.
03:42Many MLAs
03:42are making demand
03:43for funds.
03:44Only the other day
03:45even some of the truck drivers
03:47who are handling
03:47the Anna Bhagia scheme
03:48threatened to go on strike
03:49claiming they had not been
03:50paid their salaries.
03:52Are these guarantees
03:53bankrupting Karnataka's
03:55treasury?
03:55You are the finance minister
03:56as well.
03:57Is that the big challenge
03:58your government is facing
03:59because of all the guarantees
04:01and the cash
04:01that you had to
04:02give out for those guarantees?
04:05I mean,
04:05guarantees are concerned.
04:07Guarantee programs
04:08are concerned.
04:09There is no
04:10dearth of money.
04:13No dearth of money?
04:14No dearth of money.
04:16I'm making it very clear.
04:18There is no
04:19dearth of money.
04:21We have
04:22sufficient money
04:23because
04:24for guarantees
04:26What about
04:27unpaid salaries then?
04:29See,
04:30one or two cases
04:31will be there.
04:32It doesn't mean
04:33that the government
04:34has no money.
04:38See,
04:38if one person
04:39has not been
04:41given a salary,
04:42it doesn't mean
04:43that the government
04:44has no money.
04:47This impression
04:48which is going on
04:48that Karnataka
04:49is moving towards
04:50bankruptcy,
04:51that MLAs
04:51are demanding funds
04:52and they don't have funds
04:53for development
04:54of their constituency.
04:55How is that
04:55we have implemented
04:56three years
04:58successfully
05:00all the guarantees
05:01if the government
05:03is bankrupt?
05:06How is that
05:06possible?
05:07But then
05:08development schemes
05:09suffer because
05:09all the money
05:10is put on guarantees.
05:11not correct.
05:12See,
05:12they are asking
05:13special grants.
05:16See,
05:17you know,
05:17the budgetary grants
05:18and the special grants.
05:20There are two things.
05:22Budgetary grants
05:23and special grants.
05:24They are asking
05:25for a special grant.
05:26The other issue
05:29I want to raise
05:30is the Enforcement
05:31Directorate
05:31in recent weeks
05:32has been raiding
05:33several Congress
05:34MLAs.
05:34Only today
05:35one more MLA
05:36Subha Reddy
05:37has been raided.
05:38How do you see it?
05:39Is the Enforcement
05:40Directorate
05:41now focusing
05:41on Karnataka
05:42or an opposition
05:43ruled state?
05:44Even you have been
05:45brought under
05:45their scanner?
05:47CBI,
05:48Enforcement
05:49ED
05:50and all
05:53these things
05:53are targeting
05:54only Congress
05:55MLS,
05:56Congress
05:56Ministers.
05:58They are not
05:59targeting BJP
06:00or JDSM
06:01MLS.
06:02Only
06:03Congress MLS.
06:04Because you are
06:05in power,
06:05because you are
06:06in...
06:06It belongs to
06:06Congress
06:07Party.
06:08Yes,
06:08because they are
06:09saying that
06:09the Congress
06:09Party has
06:10serious...
06:11The BJP
06:12says corruption
06:13is rampant
06:15in the Congress
06:15government.
06:16You called us
06:1740%
06:18Sarkara,
06:18this is 60%
06:19Sarkara.
06:20How do you
06:20respond?
06:21They are
06:21saying that's
06:21why ED
06:21is targeting
06:22Congress.
06:23See,
06:24it's a political
06:25statement
06:26made by
06:27BJP people
06:29because
06:31we alleged
06:32that
06:34BJP
06:35government
06:36is a
06:3640%
06:37commission.
06:37It is
06:38not that
06:38we alleged
06:40or we
06:41have
06:41reached
06:41these
06:42slogans.
06:45The
06:45Contractors
06:46Association,
06:47they made
06:49this
06:49allegation
06:50that
06:51this
06:52BJP
06:54government
06:54is
06:5540%
06:57corrupt
06:57government.
06:58That is
06:59the
06:59statement
07:00made by
07:01one...
07:02What is
07:03his name?
07:03Contractors
07:04Association
07:04had made.
07:06One
07:06Kempanna
07:07who is
07:08the president
07:09of the
07:09Contractors
07:11Association.
07:12Now BJP
07:13says those
07:13same
07:14contractors
07:14are making
07:15allegations
07:15against the
07:16Congress
07:16government.
07:16Never
07:17made such
07:17an
07:17allegation.
07:18So you're
07:18saying the
07:18entire ED
07:19is being used
07:21by the
07:21center to
07:22target your
07:22government?
07:23Yes,
07:23definitely.
07:24Including you
07:25yourself because
07:25you have also
07:26been put under
07:27the scanner in
07:27that land case.
07:29me and
07:31others,
07:32particularly the
07:34Congress
07:35ministers and
07:36the Congress
07:37MLS.
07:38Recently ED
07:40rated
07:41Parmeshwaras,
07:43college
07:44premises.
07:46They see
07:46they are
07:48doing like
07:49this.
07:50They are
07:50targeting only
07:52Congress
07:53MLS,
07:54Congress
07:55ministers.
07:56Why?
07:57Would you
07:58concede though
07:58that all of
07:59this is
07:59denting the
08:01image of
08:01your government?
08:02You had
08:02that stampede
08:03issue during
08:04the RCB
08:04celebration.
08:05That dented
08:06your image.
08:06You have
08:07ordered an
08:07inquiry into
08:08it.
08:08All these
08:08ED
08:09inquiries.
08:10Is all
08:10of this
08:10damaging
08:11your image?
08:11Did the
08:12stampede
08:12issue,
08:13for example,
08:13damage your
08:14image as
08:14a government?
08:15No,
08:16it is not
08:16correct.
08:18See,
08:19it is
08:19RCB
08:21and
08:22which one
08:24of the
08:25Karnataka
08:27State Cricket
08:27Association.
08:28Karnataka
08:29Cricket
08:29Association.
08:31They requested
08:32me to hold
08:34a function
08:34before,
08:35near the
08:36Darsavda.
08:38So I
08:38permitted.
08:39Do you
08:41regret that?
08:42Was it
08:42a mistake
08:42in hindsight?
08:43Definitely.
08:44See,
08:4411 people
08:45have died.
08:48But
08:48Congress
08:49government,
08:50there is
08:50no,
08:50Congress
08:51government's
08:52mistake is
08:54there.
08:55There is
08:56no failure
08:56of the
08:57government.
08:58But still
08:58it has
08:59happened.
08:59You made
08:59a scapegoat
09:00of the
09:00police
09:01officers,
09:01sir.
09:01No,
09:02it is
09:03not
09:03correct
09:04because
09:04see,
09:06they should
09:07have not
09:08properly
09:09arranged the
09:10police
09:11bandhapast.
09:12That is
09:13why the
09:14commissioner
09:14say,
09:16I went
09:17to the
09:17function
09:18which was
09:20held
09:20near
09:21Vidanshavda
09:22by 4-15
09:24because
09:27the
09:28stampede
09:29was
09:29taken
09:29place
09:30before
09:314-15.
09:33The
09:34police
09:34people
09:34did not
09:35inform me
09:35at all.
09:37I didn't
09:37know.
09:38What does
09:39that say,
09:39sir,
09:39about
09:40governance
09:40if the
09:40chief
09:41minister
09:41is not
09:41informed
09:42by the
09:42police
09:42of a
09:42stampede
09:43taking
09:43place
09:43at
09:44people...
09:44That is
09:44why he
09:44was
09:45kept
09:45under
09:45assessment,
09:45sir.
09:47That is
09:48why he
09:49kept
09:49under
09:49assessment,
09:49sir.
09:50Let me
09:50therefore in
09:51conclusion
09:51ask you,
09:52you are now
09:53completing almost
09:53half your
09:54term in a
09:54few months.
09:55You could
09:56actually also
09:56overtake
09:57Devraj
09:57as the
09:58longest
09:58serving
09:59Karnataka
09:59chief
09:59minister if
10:00I add
10:00the five
10:01years of
10:01your term
10:02between
10:022013 and
10:0318.
10:03You are
10:03turning
10:0477.
10:05You are
10:0577.
10:06Are you
10:07thinking of
10:07retirement at
10:08all or is
10:09a politician
10:09never tired
10:10or retired?
10:11Is Mr.
10:11Sidaramaya
10:12going to lead
10:13the congress
10:13in the
10:142028 election?
10:15Normally
10:16politicians
10:17are not
10:18retiring.
10:22Will you
10:23lead your
10:23party in
10:23the 2028
10:24elections?
10:25Are you
10:25ready for
10:25that?
10:26Definitely
10:26I will
10:26lead.
10:27You don't
10:28think that
10:28if there is
10:29a change
10:29in government
10:30anti-incumbency
10:31will be less
10:31and therefore
10:32you need to
10:33give way to
10:34a newer
10:34younger
10:35order?
10:35Shiv Kumar
10:36Ji is about
10:3615 years
10:37younger than
10:38you.
10:38No.
10:40See,
10:40listen,
10:40listen.
10:42In
10:42Karnataka,
10:44the people
10:45of Karnataka,
10:47the people
10:47of Karnataka
10:48are not
10:50against this
10:50government.
10:52There is no
10:52anti-incumbency.
10:53No,
10:53anti-incumbency.
10:55They are not
10:56against this
10:57government.
10:58And in
10:592028 also,
11:01you will come
11:01back.
11:02Sir,
11:02one final
11:02question is
11:03on the
11:03caste
11:03census.
11:04There is
11:05a belief
11:05that the
11:05caste
11:06census,
11:06as the
11:06way you
11:07wanted it
11:07was not
11:08moved.
11:08In fact,
11:09you had
11:09to now
11:09reorder the
11:10caste
11:10census under
11:11pressure from
11:11the high
11:12command.
11:12Fresh caste
11:13census.
11:15Will that
11:15caste
11:15census come
11:16out in the
11:16next three
11:17months as
11:17you are
11:17promising or
11:18will it
11:18get further
11:19delayed?
11:20No,
11:20in three,
11:20four months
11:21it will
11:21come.
11:23And you
11:23will then,
11:24you will
11:25have reservations
11:26on the
11:26basis of
11:27that caste
11:27census?
11:27Chandraj
11:29Commission
11:29conducted
11:30survey in
11:33the year
11:332015 and
11:3416.
11:35Yes.
11:36So,
11:36almost 15,
11:3810 years.
11:3910 years have
11:40gone.
11:4010 years have
11:41gone.
11:41So,
11:42that is
11:42why the
11:43high command
11:43also have
11:45the opinion
11:45that,
11:47and our
11:48ministers also
11:49have the
11:49cabinet also
11:50have the
11:51opinion that
11:51new survey
11:52is to be
11:52conducted.
11:53New
11:54enumeration
11:54is to be
11:55conducted.
11:56That's why
11:56I ordered
11:56for the
11:57new.
11:57Not
11:57because that
11:58earlier survey
11:59was seen to
12:00be wrong or
12:00the facts
12:01were wrong and
12:02that you were
12:02seen to be
12:03promoting your
12:03own Kurubah
12:04community.
12:05Not at all
12:06correct.
12:07Not at all
12:08correct.
12:09In
12:09conclusion,
12:10Mr.
12:10Sidharamaya,
12:11you are seen
12:12by many as
12:12one of the
12:13last mass
12:13leaders.
12:14You have a
12:15mass connect
12:15definitely in
12:17Karnataka.
12:18Do you
12:19believe though
12:19that that
12:20connect will,
12:22if I come
12:23one year from
12:23now,
12:24will I still
12:25see you in
12:25this chair or
12:27will I see
12:28you coming to
12:28Delhi as
12:29some are
12:29saying as
12:30the head of
12:30some OBC
12:31committee of
12:32the congress.
12:32Will you
12:33move to
12:33Delhi?
12:33Is there a
12:34possibility of
12:34you moving
12:35to Delhi?
12:35I am not
12:36head of
12:37the OBC.
12:38No,
12:38there is a
12:38move to,
12:39there is some
12:40talk that you
12:40could be
12:41brought to
12:41Delhi instead
12:43of being in
12:43Karnataka.
12:44Totally it is
12:44not correct.
12:45You will
12:46remain in
12:46Karnataka
12:47same chair?
12:48Yes,
12:48I will
12:49remain in
12:50Karnataka
12:51in the
12:51same chair
12:52and I am
12:53one of the
12:54members of
12:55the backward
12:56class
12:56council.
12:59still.
12:59Sir, this is
13:01the camera.
13:01If Mr.
13:02Shiv Kumar
13:02was here
13:03watching this,
13:04what will
13:04you tell
13:05DK
13:05Shiv Kumar?
13:06What will
13:07you tell
13:07him?
13:08I don't
13:09want to
13:09tell him
13:10because
13:11he is also
13:13one of the
13:13aspirants.
13:14Nothing wrong.
13:15He says he is
13:16congress
13:16president, he
13:17has worked
13:17very hard for
13:18the party in
13:19Karnataka.
13:19He also
13:20deserves a
13:20chance.
13:21His
13:21supporters
13:21are saying.
13:21He has
13:22executed his
13:23duty.
13:26See,
13:27anybody
13:28would have
13:29been in
13:29his place
13:30would have
13:30worked like
13:31that only.
13:32So, what
13:33would you
13:33tell DK
13:33Shiv Kumar
13:34then?
13:35To wait?
13:35Are you
13:36telling him
13:36to please
13:36wait?
13:37He himself
13:41said this.
13:42He has
13:43been in
13:43Kali
13:43now.
13:45Okay.
13:46Mr.
13:46Sidharamaya
13:47for joining
13:47me and
13:48speaking so
13:49plainly.
13:49Thank you
13:50so much.
13:50Karnataka's
13:52chief
13:52minister,
13:53DK,
13:53Karnataka's
13:54chief
13:55minister,
13:55Mr.
13:56Sidharamaya
13:56saying he
13:57is not
13:58going
13:58anywhere.
13:59Kursi
14:00abhi
14:00khali
14:00nahi
14:01hai.
14:01That's
14:01the message
14:02being sent
14:03out by
14:03the Karnataka
14:04chief
14:04minister.
14:05Rajdeep
14:06Sardesai
14:06for India
14:07today.
Recommended
1:29
|
Up next
2:12