I am ‘targeted’, but won’t be a ‘coward’, says CM, setting off more speculation

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s social media post, in which he claimed that he was “targeted” because of his caste and social background, has stirred up a hornet’s nest amid the ongoing leadership tussle between him and his deputy DK Shivakumar.

While opposition leaders on Saturday demanded Mr Siddaramaiah explain who exactly was “targeting” him, Mr Shivakumar, who has strongly advocated for elevation to the Chief Minister’s post, refused to comment and said he was unaware of what was said and in what context.

There is no bed of roses

In his post, the Prime Minister said, “My 40-year political life has never been a bed of roses. It has always been a road full of stones and thorns. Many great leaders carried out countless insidious conspiracies to destroy me politically. I overcame them all with the support of the people.” What he shared on X were excerpts from an article he wrote in a Kannada newspaper on Social Justice Day on Friday.

In the post, the Prime Minister claimed that the efforts were aimed at undermining not only him but also people who support his style of politics. In his post, he also said, “I know very well that this is not just a conspiracy against me, but against you, the people who believe in me. Therefore, as long as I breathe, I will fight against this political conspiracy, the politics of hatred and jealousy. This is a struggle for truth, justice and righteousness. I will wage this struggle with your support. I will never be a coward who runs away from the battlefield.”

The rise of the Shepherd

In a more specific reference to his caste, Kuruba (OBC), he said: “A shepherd’s [Kuruba] Being Prime Minister, rubbing shoulders with economic experts and presenting various budgets are the reasons why the eyes of the privileged classes turn red. They believe that if they finish my job, their path will be smooth.”

BJP leaders, including CN Ashwath Narayan and Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, questioned the timing of the blast and asked the Prime Minister to clarify who he was actually pointing at. No. Narayanaswamy said if Dalit leaders in the party like AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge made such a statement, it would make more sense than a leader like Mr. Siddaramaiah, who came to power for two terms.

‘All about power’

JD(S) leader and Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy said social justice was “just an excuse” while the real motive behind Mr. Siddaramaiah’s statement was “a desperate attempt to cling on to power”.

Speaking in Shivamogga, former Minister KS Eshwarappa, also a Kuruba, said, “The Prime Minister should state whose path will be clear if he is finished politically. Why did he raise the issue of caste in his statements? Who are those conspiring against him? If he does not answer these questions, he will be considered a coward.”