Congress High Command to decide on Karnataka leadership issue, says Kharge amid speculations
Bengaluru, November 23. Amidst persistent speculations regarding a change of Chief Minister in Karnataka, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge stated on Sunday that the party High Command would take a decision on the matter and that he had nothing to say at the moment.
The statement from the Congress chief came a day after he held a meeting lasting over an hour with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Speaking to reporters at his residence, Kharge mentioned that he had nothing to say regarding the developments and suggested that the media was wasting its time waiting there. He emphasized that whatever needs to happen will be executed by the High Command and there is no need for further worry on the subject.
The Congress government in Karnataka completed two and a half years of its five-year tenure on November 20. Consequently, a power struggle has intensified within the ruling party amidst rumors of a leadership change. As per agency report, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, following his meeting with Kharge on Saturday night, stated that he would abide by the decision of the High Command and asserted that everyone else should do the same.
This was Siddaramaiah's second meeting with Kharge in less than a week, though he dismissed the ongoing discussions about leadership change as mere speculation. Prior to the Chief Minister's meeting with the AICC chief, some legislators supporting Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar had traveled to Delhi to meet Kharge on November 20. However, Shivakumar stated that he was unaware that the MLAs had gone to meet the party president. On Sunday, ministers H C Mahadevappa and K Venkatesh, considered close to the Chief Minister, also met Kharge at his residence.
Party sources indicate that while Siddaramaiah is pushing for a reshuffle of his cabinet, Shivakumar wants the party to first decide on the leadership change. Sources suggest that if the High Command approves a cabinet reshuffle, it would signal that the current Chief Minister will complete the full five-year term, thereby weakening Shivakumar's prospects of becoming Chief Minister. Following the announcement of assembly election results in May 2023, there was stiff competition for the post between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar. The party eventually persuaded Shivakumar to accept the role of Deputy Chief Minister. At that time, reports had emerged regarding a compromise based on a rotational formula where Shivakumar would take over after two and a half years, although the party never officially confirmed such an arrangement.
