Siddaramaiah vs Shivakumar: Kharge calls high-level meeting as suspense over Karnataka leadership deepens

Mallikarjun Kharge

As suspense deepens over the Karnataka leadership crisis, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday said that he has called for a high-level meeting to discuss the matter and take a final decision on the issue.

Speaking to reporters, Kharge said that the Congress high command will take a final decision, adding that a team of people are already discussing the issue.

"When I said the issue will be decided by 'high command', it implied that it will be discussed by the team. There is team of people... the team will sit, discuss and then take any decision," Kharge said, reacting to the reported rift between Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah and deputy CM DK Shivakumar.

Kharge added that Rahul Gandhi will also be present at the meeting, which will include both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar. "I will call everyone for a discussion, in which Rahul Gandhi will also be present. Other members, the CM, and our Deputy CM will also attend. After gathering everyone and holding the discussion, a decision will be made," he said.

His remarks come amid an intensifying power tussle in the ruling Congress, with speculation of a possible change of guard as the government crossed the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20.

Reports have pointed to an purported "power-sharing" agreement between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar in 2023.

Several MLAs close to Shivakumar have been camping in New Delhi for the last few days, building pressure on the high command to take a call on leadership change in the state.

CM Siddaramaiah has maintained that both he and Shivakumar will abide by any decision taken by the Congress high command.

Shivakumar is a key leader from the Vokkaliga community, which has a strong presence in the Old Mysuru region.

Earlier, Shivakumar had that all party-related issues would be discussed internally and not in the media.

"I don't want to speak about anything in the media. We will discuss the party's issues in the four walls, not in the media. There is no other discussion, only to keep the party flag high, to keep this Constitution high and protect the Constitution," he said.

He also dismissed talk of internal differences in the Congress, saying there was "no confusion" in the party and that all 140 MLAs belonged to "one group" with no separate factions or demands.

However, earlier today, he put out a cryptic post on X about power.

"Be it a judge, president or anyone else, including myself, everyone has to walk the talk. Word power is world power. Those standing at the back don't know the value of the chair. What value and significance the chair holds," he said, almost confirming the leadership change pact.

(With inputs from agencies)