Satish Jarkiholi will replace DKS as KPCC chief: Minister Rajanna

Bengaluru: In a statement likely to stir the state's political circles, cooperation minister KN Rajanna Saturday said public works minister Satish Jarkiholi could replace deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar as the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president.

Rajanna, a close aide of chief minister Siddaramaiah , said: "The change is bound to happen, but it is uncertain when it will take place. I believe that Jarkiholi will become the state Congress president. He might be appointed to the post. Everything will be decided in due course."

The remarks are expected to intensify internal discussions within the Congress as Shivakumar currently holds the KPCC president's post. Jarkiholi is also known to be a key member of the Siddaramaiah camp and he belongs to the scheduled tribe community.

Rajanna also clarified that any decision on leadership changes will ultimately rest with the party's high command. On change of CM, he said: "There are three power centres in the Congress -- the high command, the KPCC president, and the chief minister. The matter of a change in the chief ministership will be decided within due course of time. I will always stand with Siddaramaiah. I'm in the Siddaramaiah camp today, tomorrow, and forever."

Asked about his earlier prediction of a major political change in Aug or Sept, Rajanna said the comment wasn't specific to the Congress alone. "The big change could happen within the BJP as well. It's not only about the Congress. There might be changes at the Centre too," he added.

"Based on my statement, one should not assume that a revolution is imminent in the Congress. As per the rules made by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, no one is allowed to hold power beyond the age of 75. That's why senior leader LK Advani was not made Prime Minister. This rule also applies to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Why doesn't the media predict such changes? They are always speculating about the Karnataka Congress. Politics is never stagnant — anything can happen at any time," he said.

CM slams RSS over comments on Constitution

Siddaramaiah Saturday said RSS does not believe in the Constitution or democracy. Responding to RSS leader Dattatreya Hosabale's call to remove the words "socialist" and "secular" from the preamble, Siddaramaiah said RSS believes in Manusmriti and wants it implemented in place of the Constitution. He said the terms in question were added through a constitutional amendment after parliamentary discussion.

20 workers detained

At least 20 Congress workers were taken into preventive custody Saturday after they protested outside BJP headquarters in Malleswaram against a social media post likening late PM Indira Gandhi to Adolf Hitler. The post was shared on June 25 from BJP Karnataka's official X handle. Based on a complaint by KPCC general secretary S Manohar, an FIR was registered at High Grounds police station.