Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah meets Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge amid rising leadership tensions, reaffirming that the party high command will decide the state’s political future. The lengthy meeting fuels speculation as internal rifts and MLA grievances continue to surface.
In the midst of an escalating leadership crisis and conflicting signals within the Karnataka Congress, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah met Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday for an extensive discussion that lasted nearly one-and-a-half hours. The meeting, held at Kharge’s residence in Bengaluru, came at a time when intense political speculation surrounds the future power structure of the Congress government in the state.
Siddaramaiah, emerging from the late-night meeting, reiterated that any decision regarding the leadership of the Karnataka government will ultimately rest with the Congress high command. He emphasized that both he and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar are bound to follow the directives of the party’s top leadership without exception.
The meeting has triggered widespread curiosity within Karnataka’s political circles, especially as the state grapples with internal friction, public speculation and the aftermath of several Congress MLAs making separate representations to party leadership in New Delhi. Siddaramaiah’s brief but sharp responses to reporters’ questions reflected both the intensity of the current political climate and his own attempts to project calm authority.
Speaking to the media, Siddaramaiah initially presented the meeting as a routine interaction. He said the discussions focused primarily on upcoming elections for the taluk panchayats, zilla panchayats, and the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). With these crucial local polls approaching, he claimed the meeting was simply a courtesy visit, citing Kharge’s stay in Bengaluru as the context.
When pressed on whether the high command had asked him to continue as Chief Minister for the remaining two-and-a-half years of the term, Siddaramaiah dismissed the question as mere speculation. He accused sections of the media of fueling unnecessary political narratives without basis. “Why are you asking everything? Everything is speculation, and you are the ones who have raised these speculations,” he responded sharply.
Questions also emerged about the grievances raised by several Karnataka Congress MLAs during their recent visit to Delhi. However, Siddaramaiah maintained that he had neither questioned the MLAs nor asked for details from Kharge. Instead, he suggested that he would obtain required information through official channels, including the state Intelligence department. His response indicated a cautious but calculated distance from the internal lobbying reportedly taking place within the party.
Siddaramaiah also downplayed concerns about the unusually long duration of his meeting with Kharge. In a light-hearted moment, he remarked that they had shared snacks, including onion pakoda and dry fruits, pushing back on suggestions that the tense political atmosphere had overshadowed the meeting. When a reporter suggested that he appeared dull or distressed, the Chief Minister strongly rejected the notion. “I will never remain dull,” he said, adding firmly, “There is no question of me becoming dull. Understood? I won’t be dull, and I won’t be overly elated either.”
Amid ongoing speculation about a potential leadership shift or internal dissatisfaction within the party, Siddaramaiah insisted that the Congress high command will have the final say. “Ultimately, the decision will be taken by the Congress high command, and everyone will have to agree to it. All leaders and Ministers must agree. Even I must agree, and D.K. Shivakumar must agree,” he stated clearly. He also said that leadership matters were not discussed during his meeting with Kharge.
Responding to a separate question about Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s visit to Bengaluru Central Jail to meet two incarcerated Congress MLAs, Siddaramaiah said that he had no objection. “Let him go and meet them, there is no problem,” he remarked, giving no further indication of political tensions between the two leading figures within the state Congress.
Despite Siddaramaiah’s efforts to play down political speculation, the meeting has only intensified discussions about potential changes in Karnataka’s leadership structure. With both sides publicly affirming loyalty to the high command yet operating under an atmosphere of growing scrutiny, the Congress in Karnataka appears to be navigating one of its most delicate internal challenges since forming the government.
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The coming weeks, especially as the party leadership in Delhi evaluates internal reports and state-level feedback, are expected to be critical in shaping the tone and future of Congress governance in Karnataka. For now, Siddaramaiah’s message remains consistent: the high command will decide, and all leaders—including himself—will abide.
