Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge with Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D K Shivakumar.
Credit: PTI File Photo
Bengaluru: Amid the buzz over leadership change in Karnataka, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said on Monday that replacing the chief minister "is in the hands of the high command" and that the party's top brass has the power to "take further action" on the matter.
Kharge's statement came even as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's supporters have ruled out any change in leadership.
"That's in the hands of the high command," Kharge said when asked about the speculation that Siddaramaiah would be replaced later this year.
Asked about a few Congress MLAs publicly speculating on this, Kharge said: "Nobody can speak here what's going on in the high command. It's left to the high command. The high command has the power to take further action. Unnecessarily one shouldn't create a problem."
Surjewala dismisses buzz
Meanwhile, Congress general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala was more categorical in rejecting the buzz about a leadership change. "Any news that is circulated in the media about some leadership change is only a figment of your imagination," he said.
Congress hasn't been able to put to rest the speculation on a power-sharing agreement between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar.
Magadi MLA HC Balakrishna – a known Shivakumar loyalist – batted for a change of guard. "We feel DK Shivakumar must get power once because he has also struggled a lot to bring the party to power," he said.
Responding to claims of a "September revolution" by Cooperation Minister and Siddaramaiah's aide KN Rajanna, Balakrishna said: "Some of these ministers who are speaking won’t even contest the next elections. This will affect those who will contest the elections next."
Ramanagara MLA Iqbal Hussain has claimed that Shivakumar will become the CM in a few months.
On the other hand, Siddaramaiah’s loyalists have stood their ground. Social Welfare Minister Dr HC Mahadevappa, CM's MLC-son Yathindra and CM's political advisor Basavaraj Rayareddi have claimed that Siddaramaiah will remain at the helm of affairs for the full term.
Months ago, Kharge had himself stepped in and asked leaders to "shut up" after the two sides started levelling charges against each other. He had also openly asked leaders to remain united and “stop rejoicing at each other’s downfalls".