There appears to be no end to the speculations, rumours and demands surrounding the leadership change in Karnataka. The speculation over the CM change in the state has resurfaced after the conclusion of the legislative session on Wednesday.
On Thursday, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar expressed confidence that the Congress high command will call him to New Delhi whenever they take any “political decision”.
“Of course. For any political decision that the high command will take, they will definitely call us whenever it is required,” Shivakumar said while responding to a question on whether he is expecting a call from the high command for him to go to Delhi.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has always asserted that he will be the Chief Minister for the full five-year term.
In the wake of the remarks by Shivakumar, Congress MLC and son of CM Siddaramaiah, Yathindra Siddaramaiah, claimed that the party high command has given a clear signal that there won’t be any leadership change in the state.
“No one is discussing it in political circles other than the media. It is a settled issue. There are other issues to focus on in the state. The budget is coming up. The financial situation is such that we are not getting the revenue like in the past. The central government is not properly giving the state’s share of funds. So we need to focus on that,” PTI quoted Yathindra as saying to reporters.
Observing that there is no confusion over the leadership issue, Yathindra said, “According to me, the high command might not have said so openly, but has given a clear signal that there will not be any leadership change. So I believe that Siddaramaiah will be the CM for five years.”
Shivakumar came out with a caustic reply to the MLC, saying, “I accept whatever he says with respect. Since he has spoken as if he is the high command, let us accept him as such.”
This public war of words brings the internal friction to the forefront, intensifying the struggle for the top post. The leadership tussle within the ruling Congress in the state intensified amid speculation about a possible change of Chief Minister after the government completed the halfway mark of its five-year term in November 2025.
