Changes in govt, Cong party unit unlikely soon

WHILE Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar are shadowboxing over sharing of power, a change in guard, both in the government and ruling Congress, is unlikely to happen anytime soon.

- DEVARAJ B HIREHALLI @ Bengaluru

Camps of the two top leaders seem to be checkmating each other with Siddaramaiah's coterie wanting to replace Shivakumar as KPCC president, while the latter itching to become CM.

Magadi MLA HC Balakrishna's statement on Saturday that a new KPCC president should take over after Shivakumar becomes CM gave enough indication. "Since Siddaramaiah, originally a JDS leader, is CM, the party's top post of KPCC president is unlikely to be handed out to his camp members, especially Satish Jarkiholi. This is to balance the equation. There is no match to Shivakumar, who is a staunch Congress loyalist," said a Vokkaliga MLA.