Shivakumar cancels Delhi visit on health grounds, may leave tomorrow

BENGALURU: Congress state president D K Shivakumar, who just hours ago had hinted that he may leave for Delhi after visiting the Kadasiddeshwara Mutt at Nonavinakere in Tiptur taluk, suddenly cancelled his visit on health grounds. However, he is expected to leave to New Delhi on Tuesday.

Soon after returning from Nonavinakere, Shivakumar told media persons at his residence that he was feeling some discomfort in the stomach and that his doctor would attend to him. He is suspected to be suffering from urinary tract infection.

Earlier in the afternoon, Shivakumar had left for Nonavinakere.

Maintaining that none of the MLAs are in his camp, he said that as party president, all 135 lawmakers are with the party. “Since it is my birthday, there are some rituals I have to attend to. I don’t have the support of any MLA. I was given the name of ‘bande’ (rock) and I had said that the party workers can cut the rock into any shape — a pillar, slab on the Vidhana Soudha, Garuda Kamba, jelly stones, or anything else. I am with the party and I don’t idolise anyone. I employed various strategies to bring the party to power. I have the patience, presence of mind and the will to struggle”, he maintained.

Recalling the virtues of Yudhishtira, Karna, Arjuna, Bheema and Krishna, he said he will adopt those strategies. He, however, refused to answer a question on whether he was adamant about the chief minister’s post.