Watch | In hands of high command, says Congress president Kharge on question of CM face in Karnataka; who's it, asks BJP

Amid Congress leaders in Karnataka openly discussing possible change of Chief Minister in the state, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday said that it is for the 'high command' to decide, adding, "no one can say what is going on in the high command".

"See, 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 and the high command has got power to take further action. But unnecessarily one should not create problem,"Kharge told reporters when asked about the rumours of Karnataka CM to be changed.

Reacting to the statement, BJP leader Tejasvi Surya took a dig at the grand old party saying that the Congress high command is like a "ghost", which cannot be seen.

Surya raised question on who the party high command is if it is not the party president.

"The Congress High Command is like a ghost. It is unseen, unheard, but always felt. Even the Congress President, who people thought is the high command, whispers its name and says it’s not him. So eerie! (sic)," Surya posted on X.

In 2023, when the Congress assumed power in the southern state, there were speculations that Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar would helm the state for 2.5 years each, as per a rotational formula, claims the party has neither confirmed nor rejected so far. Currently, Siddaramaiah is the chief minister and Shivakumar his deputy.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah exhibited unity with Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar before the media at Mysuru Airport on Monday, by holding his hand and raising it. He also rubbished any possibility of change in CM's chair.

“Shivakumar and I are doing well. Our government will stand strong like a rock for a full term of five years. Attempts are being made to create a rift between us, but that won’t happen. We are united," Siddaramaiah told reporters on Monday.

(With PTI, DHNS inputs)