Karnataka Congress Leadership Debate Intensifies Amid Signals of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's Continued Tenure

The leadership debate within the Karnataka Congress has intensified following recent remarks from MLC Yathindra Siddaramaiah regarding the tenure of his father, Siddaramaiah, as Chief Minister. Speaking on the stability of the current administration, the MLC asserted that the leadership issue is effectively closed and that the incumbent would remain in office for the full term. Yathindra stated, “Siddaramaiah will be CM for 5 years. High command might not have said it directly, but they have given a signal." He further emphasised that there is no internal confusion regarding the position, noting that “it’s a settled issue. Nobody in the party is asking Siddaramaiah to be removed." Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar responded to these claims with pointed sarcasm, appearing to dismiss the MLC’s authority to speak on behalf of the party’s national leadership. Directly addressing the assertions made by the Chief Minister’s son, Shivakumar remarked, “He is our high command; now that he has said it, let’s accept it gracefully." The Deputy CM further distanced himself from the local debate by suggesting that such high-level decisions are taken by the party’s central leadership in the capital. “Let’s accept Yathindra as our high command now that he has said it. I don’t want to react to Yathindra or Basavraj. Our Delhi leaders have to react," Shivakumar added. The friction highlights a growing divide over whether the leadership transition is a settled matter or subject to future deliberation by the AICC. Yathindra Siddaramaiah maintained that the focus should remain on governance and the upcoming budget rather than speculative changes. He argued that the lack of response from the central leadership towards those demanding a change is a tacit endorsement of the status quo. “Nobody is discussing it. It’s a settled issue. There is a budget, we should focus on that. Nobody is saying Siddaramaiah should be removed. Even the high command has not responded to those who have demanded that Siddaramaiah has to be removed. According to me, he will continue for 5 years. Although high command hasn’t said it explicitly, they have given signals that they are not interested in leadership change," the MLC explained. State Home Minister G Parameshwara also weighed in on the situation, urging a focus on administrative stability while acknowledging that individual opinions do not dictate party policy. Parameshwara noted that while followers and leaders may express various views, the ultimate authority rests with the central command. “We can’t decide these things. We need a strong government, and Siddaramaiah is doing that. Whatever the high command says, we will accept. Our followers and leaders keep saying their opinion, but that won’t change anything," the Home Minister stated. This sentiment aligns with DK Shivakumar’s earlier insistence that any formal political shifts would be managed through official channels, as he previously noted that the high command would call upon state leaders whenever a political decision is required.