Bangalore: In Bengaluru, political tensions have risen within the Congress party as Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's petition challenging Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot's sanction for his prosecution in a site allotment case is being heard by the High Court. Amid this legal uncertainty, some Congress leaders are positioning themselves as potential successors.

Despite the ongoing legal proceedings, Congress leaders and Ministers are publicly asserting that Siddaramaiah will remain Chief Minister. However, a verbal clash has emerged between senior Ministers M B Patil and Shivanand Patil regarding the criteria for selecting the Chief Minister.

M B Patil argued that while seniority is important, it is not the sole criterion for becoming Chief Minister. He stressed that Siddaramaiah will continue in the role and criticized Shivanand Patil for questioning his seniority. Patil stated, "There are people senior to me, but seniority is not the only yardstick. The discussion about changing the Chief Minister is irrelevant now."

Shivanand Patil, on the other hand, emphasized the importance of seniority and suggested that there are other senior leaders in the party who deserve consideration. He clarified, "I have no desire to become Chief Minister, but I believe that senior leaders who have contributed significantly to the party should be considered."

Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar is seen as a strong contender for the Chief Minister position if a change in leadership occurs. Other senior Ministers, including Home Minister G Parameshwara and PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi, are also being mentioned as potential candidates, particularly following their recent meeting with party leadership in New Delhi.

R V Deshpande, Chairperson of the Administrative Reforms Commission, has also expressed his interest in the Chief Minister position. Siddaramaiah responded to Deshpande's comments by stating that the decision will ultimately be made by the legislators and the party high command.

Senior BJP leader and MP Jagadish Shettar criticized the Congress party's internal discord, predicting further complications due to infighting. He remarked, "The Congress government will face trouble because of its infighting."

The Karnataka High Court is scheduled to resume hearings on Monday regarding Siddaramaiah's petition challenging the Governor's sanction for prosecution in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority site allotment case. The Governor had granted sanction on August 16 under the Prevention of Corruption Act and other relevant laws, leading Siddaramaiah to challenge the order on August 19.

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