Kharge's Take On Karnataka Leadership

Mallikarjun Kharge has addressed Karnataka leadership issue, but has kept his cards close to his chest.

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karnataka leadership row mallikarjun kharge no decision yet siddaramaiah dk shivakumar

Congress

president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday firmly refused to spell out any timeline or clarity on the Karnataka leadership question. Keep the cards close to this chest, Kharge said, “I will not give any clarification… when the three of us jointly decide and fix a date, that will be the final decision,” referring to the party’s top leadership, including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.

Karnataka's Leadership Tussle

Kharge’s remarks come amid persistent speculation over a leadership change in Karnataka, where a power tussle between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar continues to dominate chatter in political circles. While both leaders have maintained that there is no conflict, their public statements have kept the debate alive. Siddaramaiah has repeatedly said he will complete a full five-year term, signalling no intent to step down midway. Shivakumar, on the other hand, has maintained that he will abide by the party high command’s decision, even as his supporters continue to push the case for his elevation.The roots of the current situation go back to May 2023, when the Congress returned to power in Karnataka with a decisive mandate. The choice of chief minister was not immediate, with both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar staking claim to the post.After days of intense deliberations, the high command appointed Siddaramaiah as CM, while Shivakumar was made Deputy Chief Minister — a compromise widely seen as an attempt to balance factions within the party.At the time, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had indicated that decisions would be taken in consultation with all stakeholders and hinted at arrangements that would ensure stability while accommodating competing interests. Though never officially confirmed, talk of a possible rotational chief ministership has persisted since then, leading to further periodic speculation about a mid-term change.Kharge's latest comments make it clear that, for now, the Congress leadership is in no hurry to take a call.