While Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is advocating for a Cabinet reshuffle, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar is urging the Congress party to first address potential leadership changes, as reported by PTI.
Insiders indicate that if the Congress high command approves the reshuffle, it may suggest that Siddaramaiah will serve a full five-year term, which would diminish Shivakumar’s prospects of assuming the top position.
With a group of six legislators from the Shivakumar camp arriving in Delhi, and more expected to join, Siddaramaiah stated that the final decision on leadership change lies with the high command, which both he and Shivakumar should accept. “We will abide by the high command decision. If they decide I should continue as CM, I will do so. Ultimately, whatever the high command decides, I should accept it. Shivakumar should also accept it,” Siddaramaiah told reporters.
When asked if Shivakumar would become the CM, he reiterated, “When I have said the high command will decide, you are asking me the same thing again.”
His remarks were made amid the backdrop of increased activity among Shivakumar’s supporters, who have flown to Delhi. At least six MLAs aligned with Shivakumar landed in the national capital on Sunday to meet with Congress leaders. Speculation about a possible change in chief minister has increased as the Congress government approaches the halfway mark of its term, with discussions of a “November revolution” referencing a potential power-sharing agreement made when the party won the 2023 Assembly elections.
Additionally, former Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) chief and Home Minister G. Parameshwara has also expressed interest in the position, amidst calls for a Dalit chief minister.
Beyond the six MLAs currently in Delhi, additional legislators are likely to travel there soon to advocate for Shivakumar’s ascension as CM, according to party sources. The MLAs present include H.C. Balakrishna, K.M. Uday, Iqbal Hussain, Nayana Motamma, Sharath Bachegowda, and Shivaganga Basavraj, as reported by PTI.
Siddaramaiah recently met with AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, who is currently in Bengaluru and expected to travel to Delhi. Rahul Gandhi is also anticipated to return from abroad, suggesting that discussions regarding the leadership issue will be addressed among the party’s top leaders. Kharge has emphasized that the final decision will be made by the Congress high command.
Last week, about ten MLAs supporting Shivakumar visited New Delhi to meet Kharge, coinciding with the Congress government reaching its 2.5-year mark in office on November 20. Shivakumar, however, claimed he was unaware of any legislators planning to meet Kharge. Subsequently, Siddaramaiah held a meeting lasting over an hour with Kharge at his residence.
