Congress High Command Finalizes Decision on Karnataka Chief Minister Change
In a significant development, Public Works Department Minister Satish Jarkiholi announced on Saturday that the Congress high command has reached a conclusive decision regarding a potential change of chief minister in Karnataka. He emphasized that a formal announcement on this matter is imminent, signaling a resolution to the ongoing political tussle within the state party.
Key Discussions and Clarifications
Jarkiholi, along with former minister K N Rajanna—both known as staunch loyalists of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah—met with All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Mallikarjun Kharge in New Delhi. The meeting, which lasted approximately half an hour, focused on addressing the internal conflict between supporters of Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar over the chief minister's position.
"We have urged the party's central leadership to resolve this imbroglio at the earliest," Jarkiholi stated after the discussion. He added, "It is not clear whether there will be a change of chief minister. We have told the high command to take a final call on that. He [Kharge] responded positively, and said everything will be sorted out soon."
However, both Jarkiholi and Rajanna clarified that the meeting did not cover topics such as changing the state Congress president—a role currently held by Shivakumar—or a cabinet reshuffle, narrowing the focus solely to the chief ministerial issue.
Deputy Chief Minister's Response and Other Matters
Reacting to Jarkiholi's statement, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar expressed optimism, saying he was "happy to hear that" from Bengaluru. When questioned about Siddaramaiah's remarks and a social media post concerning rising corruption in Karnataka, Shivakumar indicated he had no information on the matter and would need to gather details.
On the Bagalkot violence incident, Shivakumar explained that he had returned to Bengaluru late on Friday night after marathon meetings in Assam, where he serves as a senior central observer for the Congress party in the forthcoming assembly elections. "I have no information on this issue. I will gather details," he said, adding that decisions regarding a Congress delegation visit to the affected area and compensation would be made once officials submit their report.
This development underscores the intense political maneuvering within the Karnataka Congress, as key figures await the high command's final verdict to stabilize the state's leadership and address pressing governance challenges.
