Hope Siddaramaiah will back me this time, says Shivakumar, hinting at CM’s post

TUMAKURU: Congress state president D K Shivakumar on Sunday dropped broad hints that he is a strong contender for the post of chief minister when he said that he believes he will “rise further”.

Shivakumar, who visited the Kadasiddeshwara Ajjayyana Peetha mutt at Nonavinakere in Tiptur taluk to offer prayers, later told reporters that on several occasions earlier, he had ceded to Siddaramaiah in the interest of the party and supported the latter.

“People said that me and Siddaramaiah have differences, but there is no such thing. I am confident that he will back me this time”, he said. “Initially, when I was not made minister, did I not wait patiently? I extended my support to Siddaramaiah”, he added.

Shivakumar also offered prayers at the original gadduge of Ajjayya.

Shivakumar regularly visits the Kadasiddeshwara Peetha to seek the blessings of Vrishabha Deshikendra see. On Sunday too, he visited the mutt after the resounding victory in the Assembly polls and offered prayers at the original ‘gadduge’ of Ajjayya behind the mutt along with family members. Some of his supporters also raised ‘Shivakumar for CM’ slogans.

“On every occasion, Gangadhar Ajja and the mutt seer have guided me. From the time I took over as KPCC president, I have taken decisions on whom to give tickets to after seeking advice here. After the I-T raids, I came here and sought advice and when the helicopter mishap occurred, my daughter visited the mutt”, he said.

Elaborating further, he said that he had prayed to Ajjayya that the party should secure 134 seats without having to depend on anyone and was advised to announce welfare schemes for women. “That is why we announced the Gruha Lakshmi scheme and free bus pass for girl students”, he added.