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Mysuru. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Monday that ultimately the decision to change the Chief Minister of the state has to be taken by Rahul Gandhi and the Congress high command and everyone will follow their decision. Siddaramaiah said that he has spoken to the high command and the leadership has said that they will take a decision on this. This statement of the Chief Minister has come at a time when Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge had said a day earlier that the confusion regarding leadership in Karnataka Congress is only at the local level and not within the high command. Kharge had said that local leaders should take responsibility for their own disputes and not put it on the high command.
Responding to Kharge’s statement, Siddaramaiah told reporters, I am not aware of it. Rahul Gandhi and the high command have to take a decision. Whatever decision they take, I am ready for it. He said, I have spoken to the high command. He has said that he will take a decision. Whatever decision the high command takes, I will follow it. The power struggle within the party has intensified amid speculations about change of Chief Minister after the Congress government completes half its term on November 20.
When the Chief Minister was asked by when can there be a clear situation on the leadership issue, Siddaramaiah said, whenever the high command will decide. When asked whether he would remain Chief Minister for the full five years, he said, that is a different matter. Whatever decision the high command takes. He said that the media is discussing this issue despite repeatedly making it clear that the decision of the high command will be final and everyone will follow it.
He said, what is the need to ask so many questions on this issue? I have said what I had to say in the Assembly, why is it still being discussed? On Kharge’s statement that no person is bigger than the party and the party did not come to power because of one person, Siddaramaiah said, yes, everyone should accept this. No one can be bigger than the party.
