Karnataka's political landscape is heating up as Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has officially announced his plans to travel to Delhi for crucial discussions with the Congress high command regarding the ongoing leadership dispute with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
Delhi Meeting Confirmed Amid Leadership Speculations
Shivakumar revealed on Friday that both he and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will journey to the national capital following summons from the party leadership. The high command is expected to make a decisive ruling concerning the anticipated reshuffle within the state government.
"I will definitely go to Delhi. It is our temple. Congress has a long history, and Delhi will always guide us. When they call me, party leaders and the CM, we will go there," the deputy chief minister stated during his press interaction.
Confidential Understanding Revealed
Adding fuel to the existing speculations, Shivakumar disclosed that there had been a confidential understanding on leadership transition among five-six senior leaders shortly after Congress secured a landslide victory in the 2023 assembly elections. This marks the first official acknowledgment of such an agreement from any party leader involved in the matter.
"This is confidential. I don't want to speak publicly on this," Shivakumar remarked, choosing to maintain discretion about the specific details of the alleged power-sharing arrangement.
High Command Intervention and Timing
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has downplayed the internal conflict while confirming that the party leadership will address the situation appropriately. Kharge, along with Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, will collectively deliberate on the matter and provide necessary resolution at the appropriate moment.
"People in the high command will sit together and deliberate on this. We will give the medicine when required," Kharge commented, indicating that the leadership is monitoring the situation closely.
Echoing this sentiment, Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge emphasized that the Congress high command possesses the necessary sense of timing to resolve the escalating power struggle between the two top state leaders. He urged against further speculation, assuring that the party leadership would intervene when necessary.
The political tensions intensified significantly as the Congress government in Karnataka completed the halfway mark of its five-year tenure on November 20, triggering renewed discussions about a potential change in leadership as per the alleged power-sharing agreement made in 2023.
Meanwhile, reports suggest that MLAs and MLCs from Shivakumar's faction have already established presence in Delhi, actively pushing for his elevation to the chief minister's position, adding another layer to this complex political drama unfolding within the Karnataka Congress.
