The Congress high command on Tuesday put an end to speculations of a likely May revolution in Karnataka government, saying Siddaramaiah will continue to be chief minister.
Adressing media outside Indira Bhawan in the presence of Siddaramaiah and Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, AICC General Secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal said there was no truth to the speculation about change in Karnataka chief minister.
"Whatever speculation you people are doing, that is only speculation. No reality at all," said Venugopal.
He clarified that the Congress top leaders' meeting with Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar focused on the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections and Karnataka MLC seats.
"The candidates of Rajya Sabha and Council seats of Karnataka will be announced along with the other seats like Chhattisgarh, like Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Jharkhand, like these states. That's all," he added. Kharge is likely to retain his Rajya Sabha seat in Karnataka when it gets vacant in June. Another Rajya Sabha berth might be given to Shivakumar's brother D.K. Suresh, who has been a former Rajya Sabha member from the state. The third seat will go to a woman or an OBC nominee.
Ever since the Congress came to power in 2023, Shivakumar's supporters have been seeking his appointment as CM in line with a previously agreed power-sharing formula with Siddaramaiah. Back then, Kharge said that the high command would give the medicine when required. "People in the high command – Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and I – will sit together and deliberate on this... We will give the medicine when required," he said.