MYsuru / Mangaluru / Bengaluru: Amid escalating speculation over leadership change in Karnataka, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Thursday firmly declined to comment on claims that the Congress high command has already cleared Siddaramaiah to continue as Chief Minister for a full five-year term.
Reacting to remarks by Yathindra Siddaramaiah, who had stated that there was “no confusion” and that the high command had given a green signal for continuity, Shivakumar said, “They are our high command. Whatever they say, we will accept it with respect. If someone claims to speak for the high command, let us accept them as the high command.”
When asked about Congress MLA Shivaganga Basavaraj’s demand for clarity on an alleged power-sharing agreement, Shivakumar made it clear that he would not enter the debate. “I will not respond to statements made by Basavaraj or Yathindra. Any response, if required, must come from Delhi,” he said.
The remarks come at a time when internal dynamics within the Karnataka Congress are visibly intensifying, with public statements from leaders across camps adding momentum to speculation over leadership continuity and succession.
While Yathindra Siddaramaiah has repeatedly asserted that no leadership change is on the cards and that his father will continue as Chief Minister for five years, Shivakumar’s comments indicate a clear attempt to shift the spotlight back to the party’s central leadership.
Senior Congress leaders have so far avoided making definitive statements, reiterating that decisions on leadership will be taken by the All India Congress Committee. With political messaging now moving between Bengaluru and Delhi, the Congress’s internal power equations in Karnataka appear to be entering a crucial phase.
