Congress has firmly rejected speculation over a leadership tussle in Karnataka following a meeting between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar with party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi in Delhi. The meeting, which took place on May 26, 2026, had sparked rumors of a possible change in the state's top post.
Congress Leader Clarifies Meeting Agenda
KC Venugopal, a senior Congress leader, dismissed the reports as baseless. He stated that the discussions were exclusively focused on the upcoming Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council elections, and not on any leadership change. Venugopal emphasized that the speculation about a rotational chief ministership arrangement is unfounded.
Background of the Speculation
The meeting came amid persistent buzz over a potential rotational chief ministership deal in Karnataka, where Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar are seen as key rivals. The Congress high command had earlier hinted at a power-sharing formula to maintain unity in the state unit. However, Venugopal’s clarification suggests that no such decision has been made.
Political analysts believe that the meeting was a routine consultation to finalize candidates for the upper house elections. The Congress is keen to avoid any internal discord ahead of the polls. Both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar have publicly denied any rift, but their frequent meetings with central leaders have fueled speculation.
In recent weeks, there have been reports of factionalism within the Karnataka Congress, with supporters of both leaders lobbying for their respective candidates. The party leadership is treading carefully to balance the ambitions of its top leaders while ensuring smooth governance in the state.
The Congress is expected to announce its candidates for the Rajya Sabha and Council elections soon. The outcome of the meeting in Delhi is likely to put an end to the rumors of a leadership change, at least for now.
