Bengaluru. Speculation regarding change of Chief Minister in Karnataka is not stopping. In such a situation, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said on Sunday that whatever it is, the party high command will take a decision on it and at present he has nothing to say. A day before this statement of the Congress chief, he had a meeting with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah here for more than an hour.
Kharge told reporters at his residence here, “I have nothing to say about whatever developments have taken place. That’s why you (media) are wasting your time by standing here and I too am feeling bad. Whatever has to happen, the high command will do. You don’t need to worry any more about it.”
The tenure of the Congress government in Karnataka completed two and a half years out of five on 20 November. In such a situation, the power struggle in the ruling party has intensified amid speculations about change of Chief Minister. Speaking to reporters on Saturday night after meeting Kharge, Siddaramaiah, in response to a question related to his tenure as Chief Minister, had said that he will follow the decision of the high command, and everyone should do the same.
This was Siddaramaiah’s second meeting with Kharge in less than a week. However, Siddaramaiah had termed the ongoing discussions regarding leadership change as speculation. Before the Chief Minister’s meeting with the AICC chief, some MLAs supporting Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar had gone to Delhi and met Kharge on November 20, after the completion of the government’s two-and-a-half year tenure. However, Shivkumar said that he was not aware that the MLA had gone to meet Delhi Kharge.
Ministers H.C. Mahadevappa and K., considered close to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Venkatesh met Kharge at his residence on Sunday. Speaking to reporters after meeting Kharge, Mahadevappa said that there is no situation to change the Chief Minister as of now, and if such a situation arises, the Congress high command will take the decision. Describing the meeting with Kharge as a courtesy call, he said that during the meeting, organizing the party and preparations for the upcoming local body elections were discussed.
Mahadevappa said there was no question of change in the party leadership and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was working well. Mahadevappa also refused to conduct any signature campaign in the party to gather opinion on changing the Chief Minister. He said, “So far no one has called us or contacted us in any other way.” Mahadevappa said, “Congress will complete its term and will come back to power in 2028. The Chief Minister will remain till 2028 and complete the tenure.”
According to party sources, on one hand Siddaramaiah is pressing for a reshuffle in his cabinet, while on the other hand Shivakumar wants the party to first decide on the change of leadership. According to several party sources, if the Congress high command approves the cabinet reshuffle, it will indicate that current Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will complete his five-year term. Sources say that this will weaken Shivkumar’s chances of becoming the Chief Minister.
After the announcement of assembly election results in May 2023, there was a tough competition between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar for the post of Chief Minister. Congress succeeded in convincing Shivkumar and made him Deputy Chief Minister. At that time there were some reports that an agreement had been reached on the basis of “the formula of taking over the post of Chief Minister by rotation”. It was said in the news that as per the agreement, Shivkumar will become the Chief Minister after two and a half years. However, the party did not confirm this formula.
