The ongoing leadership tussle in Karnataka has now moved to Delhi, with Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar confirming on Friday that he and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah are prepared to meet the Congress high command to resolve the ongoing internal dispute over the chief ministerial post.
Shivakumar, addressing reporters, said he would travel to Delhi whenever instructed by party leaders.
“I will definitely go to Delhi. It is our temple. Congress has a long history, and Delhi will always guide us. When the party calls, both the CM and I will go,” he said.
Playing down talks of rivalry, he added that his loyalty lies firmly with the Congress.
“My community is the Congress. I do not want anything personally. The party will decide,” Shivakumar said.
Speculation of a power shift intensified soon after the Karnataka Congress government completed the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20. Reports claimed that a faction of MLAs supporting Shivakumar had been lobbying in Delhi, pushing for him to take over the chief minister’s role as part of a 2023 “power-sharing” understanding.
Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge, however, attempted to calm the political chatter, saying the party leadership would handle the matter at the appropriate time.
“Only those in the high command can comment on government decisions. Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and I will sit together and deliberate. We will give the medicine when required,” Kharge remarked.
This was Kharge’s first public acknowledgment of the growing internal strain between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar.
Priyank Kharge, Karnataka minister and son of Mallikarjun Kharge, also noted that the high command is monitoring the situation closely.
“The high command will intervene at the right time. People should avoid speculation,” he said.
He clarified that no official invitation for a Delhi meeting has been issued yet, but both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar have stated they will go whenever called by the party leadership. As the Congress government marks its mid-term point, rumours of a leadership transition continue to gather momentum, with many within the party awaiting the high command’s eventual decision.
