Amid intensifying speculation and open lobbying over a potential change in Karnataka's Chief Minister post, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has intervened, stating unequivocally that the party's top brass will collectively settle the issue.
Addressing the media, Kharge acknowledged the ongoing internal debate stemming from an alleged 2023 power-sharing agreement between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy, D.K. Shivakumar, who is also the state Congress chief. The high command's intervention comes shortly after the Congress government completed the halfway mark of its five-year term.
“The high command—myself, Rahul ji and Sonia ji—will together take a decision on the issue and resolve it,” Kharge said, signaling that the final word rests with the party's central leadership.
The Roots of the Crisis
The current crisis, frequently dubbed the 'CM chair tussle,' reignited after the government crossed its two-and-a-half-year tenure. Supporters of Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar, citing an understanding allegedly struck before the 2023 victory, have been actively lobbying in New Delhi, demanding his elevation to the top post.
- D.K. Shivakumar's Stand: While asserting the party's unity, Shivakumar has repeatedly alluded to a "secret deal between five or six of us" regarding the power transition, though he refrains from discussing the specifics publicly, stating, "I don't want to cause embarrassment to the party."
- Siddaramaiah's Position: The incumbent CM has maintained that the decision to continue rests entirely with the high command, effectively shifting the onus to the central leadership to "put a full stop to the confusion."
High Command Prepares to Mediate
Kharge's statement confirms that the "high command" in the Congress party remains firmly centered on him, Sonia Gandhi, and Rahul Gandhi. Reports suggest that the Congress President and Rahul Gandhi may first meet to assess the political landscape before summoning both the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister to Delhi for a comprehensive meeting, possibly over the weekend.
The Congress leadership had previously issued a stern warning to state legislators against making public statements that fuel confusion among cadres. However, the open campaigning by supporting MLAs has continued, prompting this definitive step from Kharge to assert central authority and prevent the internal conflict from jeopardizing the party's stability in the southern state.
