Rahul Gandhi will decide on leadership, says Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah in counter to Kharge

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday asserted that Rahul Gandhi will decide on the issue of leadership in Karnataka in a clear counter to AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge’s stand that it was an issue local leaders must resolve themselves instead of escalating it to Delhi.

Siddaramaiah, responding to Kharge’s remarks, told the media in Mysuru that he had spoken to the high command, and was assured that they would decide. He would abide by Rahul Gandhi’s decision.

Kharge, speaking to the media in Kalaburagi on Sunday, expressed displeasure over being dragged into the issue. He was firm that the leadership issue was a ‘local creation’ and the high command was in no way responsible for the present confusion. Local leaders must resolve it themselves instead of pointing fingers at the Delhi leadership, the AICC president said in an obvious reference to Siddaramaiah and Dy CM DK Shivakumar.


Kharge’s comments followed a brief war of words between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar over the last three days. The veteran Congress leader also conveyed a stern message to leaders asking them to desist from claiming individual credits that they built the party. The Congress was built by everyone, mostly by the workers, he said.

Discussions over leadership change are back after a brief pause following two back-to-back breakfast meetings between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar. The latter, who is also the president of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) on Saturday said the party high command has shared a message with him and the CM on power- sharing and both will go to Delhi when called.
The Dy CM’s comments came in the wake of Siddaramaiah dismissing being privy to any power-sharing deal or agreeing to be the CM only for two and a half years. The CM also claimed he had the full backing of the high command.

“Siddaramaiah and I have reached an understanding and both of us have convinced the high command also,” Shivakumar said on Saturday.

The Dy CM had hinted, last month, that there had been an understanding reached at the Congress leadership level ahead of Siddaramaiah’s swearing-in as chief minister in May 2023.

The leadership issue was on the boil last month, after Siddaramaiah completed half his term. Since Siddaramaiah took oath as CM for a second time in May 2023, there have been unconfirmed reports that Shivakumar would replace Siddaramaiah after the first 30 months.