BENGALURU: Vokkaliga seer Chandrashekaranath Swami on Thursday batted for Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar to take over as Chief Minister of the state. The seer’s remarks came at the 515th birth anniversary celebration of Bengaluru founder Nadaprabhu Kempegowda held at the Sri Kanteerava indoor stadium in Bengaluru on Thursday.
Chandrashekaranath Swami made the comments right in the presence of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The seer said
that Siddaramaiah should vacate the Chief Minister’s post in favour of D K Shivakumar.
“All have enjoyed the position of chief minister. Only our D K Shivakumar has not been made chief minister. Siddaramaiah has already been chief minister and in the coming days, I request him that he should vacate the post in favour of D K Shivakumar and bless him”, he said.
The seer said said Shivakumar can become only CM if Siddaramaiah makes up his mind and said a Vokkaliga should be given a chance to become chief minister. “Otherwise, it will not happen. Hence, I request Siddaramaiah to name Shivakumar as CM”, he added.
There was an awkward silence on the part of the Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar when the seer made the remarks while the crowd cheered.
Later, speaking to the media, Siddaramaiah said the Congress high command will decide who will be the CM and not the seer. “Congress party is a high command party. We will do as the high command says”, he shot back.