Amid ongoing speculation regarding the Chief Ministerial position in Karnataka, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge emphasized on November 27 that the decision will be made by a collaborative team involving the party high command, current Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and his deputy, DK Shivakumar.
“When I stated that the matter would be decided by the ‘high command’, I meant that discussions will take place within a team,” Kharge informed reporters. He specified that a collective deliberation would precede any decision.
Earlier, Kharge indicated that the issue would be resolved after discussions with senior leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. Speculation has intensified due to the Karnataka government reaching the midpoint of its five-year term on November 20.
Kharge reiterated the importance of collective decision-making when speaking to reporters in Bengaluru. “I will call everyone for a discussion. Rahul Gandhi will also be present, along with other members. The Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister will participate, and a decision will be reached after discussions with all involved,” he stated.
In recent weeks, discussions about leadership changes have gained traction, coinciding with the Congress government marking two and a half years in office. Observers have dubbed this period the “November revolution,” as supporters of Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar have voiced demands for his ascension to the Chief Minister role.
Earlier in the day, Shivakumar shared a social media post echoing the sentiment, “Keeping one’s word is the greatest strength in the world.” This post appears to be aimed at the Congress high command, urging everyone to uphold their commitments.
In a subsequent message, Shivakumar emphasized the importance of integrity, stating, “Word power is world power. The biggest force in the world is to keep one’s word. It is imperative that everyone, including myself, adheres to their promises.”
On Wednesday, senior Congress MLA and former minister KN Rajanna argued that the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) should have the final say on the Chief Minister issue and suggested dissolving the assembly to trigger new elections. He advocated for a leadership transition to DK Shivakumar following another electoral victory.
Rajanna pointed out, “It was the CLP that chose Siddaramaiah as Chief Minister. Now, the decision must rest with the CLP.”
CM Siddaramaiah has dismissed the talk of a leadership change as an “unnecessary debate” while DK Shivakumar has reaffirmed his loyalty to the Congress party, downplaying talk of his resignation from the position of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President. Meanwhile, he has sought a meeting with Sonia Gandhi on November 29 to address the ongoing issues within the party.
