As the Congress government in Karnataka under Chief Minister Siddaramaiah completes three years, the High Command has summoned the senior leader to Delhi, triggering speculations that a leadership change is imminent. This comes amid disputes between Siddaramaiah and senior leader D K Shivakumar over the top post.
As per reports, the High Command call came when the Chief Minister was at a Congress event on Sunday to discuss the upcoming Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) elections.
Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar has now broken his silence on the High Command's call to Siddaramaiah. Shivakumar said he was clueless about why Siddaramaiah was called to Delhi, as he had not told him anything. The Deputy Chief Minister said he is yet to receive a call from the high command but will head to Delhi if he is called.
On asked whether a Cabinet reshuffle or leadership change is in the offing, Shivakumar said he was not aware of any such moves. "As of now, there is no other information from the high command. I, the CM, and Congress in charge, Randeep Singh Surjewala, are holding a meeting today regarding the SIR and GBA elections. Apart from that, I don't know anything," he said.
Meanwhile, local media reports hint that the Congress high command is moving to resolve the differences between the leaders, putting a permanent end to the leadership scuffle in the state. Speculations are that supporters of Siddaramaiah are camping in Delhi to pressure the High Command to let him continue as the Chief Minister.
However, Shivakumar's supporters have publicly begun calling him the "next Chief Minister." During his birthday celebrations in Mysore, a cake with the words "Next CM DK Boss" sent a political message that the Deputy CM could now head the state. Additionally, large posters and cutouts supporting Shivakumar have also popped up in Bengaluru, Belagavi, and several other parts of Karnataka.
During his Delhi visit, Siddaramaiah could also discuss the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections as well. Four Rajya Sabha seats from Karnataka are becoming vacant, of which Congress can win three.
