Karnataka Chief Minister Mallikarjun Kharge on June 30, 2025, did not dismiss rumors surrounding a potential leadership change within the state but instead indicated that the decision lies with the party’s high command. This remark coincides with discussions triggered by Congress General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala’s recent visit to Bengaluru, which has intensified speculation about Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar possibly taking over the chief minister’s role from Siddaramaiah.
Kharge was pressed about the notion that a new chief minister would be appointed in October. He stated, “That is in the hands of the high command; nobody can say here what is going on in the high command. This is left to the high command; they have the power to take further action, but unnecessarily, one should not create a problem.”
Supporting this speculation, Karnataka Congress MLA H A Iqbal Hussain suggested that Shivakumar might ascend to the chief minister’s position within the next two to three months. He emphasized the collective effort the Congress party has made since the current government took power, expressing confidence that the high command understands the situation and will make an appropriate decision in due time.
When asked directly if Shivakumar, who also serves as the state Congress president, is expected to take the role of CM this year, Hussain affirmed, “Yes, I’m saying it. The date some leaders are hinting at for revolutionary political developments after September-this is what they are talking about. A decision will be made within two to three months.” He noted that the Congress high command had managed discussions on forming the government following the 2023 Assembly elections, highlighting the presence of senior leaders like Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Kharge during those talks.
Additionally, Cooperation Minister K N Rajanna has hinted at significant political changes coming post-September. Speculation regarding a leadership transition in the Congress has gained traction, connected to an alleged power-sharing agreement between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar that was previously seen as settled after directives from the party’s leadership.
Since Congress’s victory in the May 2023 Assembly elections, competition for the CM role has been intense, with efforts made to persuade Shivakumar to accept the Deputy CM position instead. Reports suggested a “rotational CM formula,” which would see Shivakumar replace Siddaramaiah after a period; however, this was never officially confirmed.
In a related development, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criticized Kharge’s comment about the high command’s authority in deciding leadership matters. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala remarked that Kharge appears to have little influence in shaping the party’s direction, suggesting that decisions originate solely from the Gandhi family’s leadership.
Original Source: https://www.news18.com/politics/siddaramaiah-karnataka-cm-congress-dk-shivakumar-ws-l-9412084.html
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Publish Date: 2025-07-01 02:08:00
