With the Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge shifting the decision on leadership issue to the party high command, all eyes are now on Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi even as the second set of legislators, aligned to Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, is now camping in Delhi to bring pressure on central leaders.
However, those close to the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah maintained that discussion would take place on Cabinet reshuffle and not related to leadership.
Seen together
Amid these hectic developments, Mr. Siddaramaiah and Mr. Shivakumar were seen together sharing the dais at a government function in Chickballapur, near here, on Monday.
Speaking to reporters, the Chief Minister reiterated that he would abide by the high command’s decision.
“If they decide I should continue, I will continue. Both Mr. Shivakumar and I have to accept what high commands decide.” Responding to this, his deputy later said, “What Mr. Siddaramaiah says is Veda Vakya to all of us and he is our party’s asset.”
Party sources said that Mr. Kharge was likely to brief Mr. Gandhi in a couple of days following which both Mr. Siddaramaiah and Mr. Shivakumar may be called for consultations.
“The central leaders have not met since the Bihar results. They are likely to discuss the developments in Karnataka too. It was in their presence that a decision on the Chief Minister was arrived at in 2023,” said a source.
Venugopal in city
Until Mr. Gandhi took a decision, nothing would move in the current circumstances, the sources said. Another source in the Congress said that Mr. Shivakumar was likely to meet AICC general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal, who would be transiting through Bengaluru either on Monday night or Tuesday morning to discuss the issue.
In a related development, following a set of legislators going to Delhi last week to speak to Central leaders including Mr. Venugopal and general secretary in charge of Karnataka Randeep Surjewala, another set of six legislators reached there on Sunday night to meet the leaders.
According to party sources in the coming days more such delegations could go to Delhi to extend support to Mr. Shivakumar in his bid to get the post of Chief Minister.
Responding to this, Mr. Shivakumar said they were ministerial aspirants and there was nothing wrong with them going to Delhi.
However, sources close to the Chief Minister said that those who are going to Delhi were not getting any appointments from the central leaders and were “returning empty-handed”.
Meanwhile, sources close to former Bengaluru Rural MP D.K. Suresh, who has been actively involved in drumming up support for his brother, said that he had reminded the Chief Minister of his promise of “leadership rotation formula” when the two met recently.
“When the discussion on leadership took place at Mr. Kharge’s residence in Delhi two days prior to the swearing in, it was Mr. Suresh who had remained adamant about Mr. Shivakumar being made the Chief Minister.
Mr. Siddaramaiah had convinced him then in front of the central leaders. That was the reason why Mr. Suresh publicly said the Chief Minister will live up to his word recently,” claimed a source.
Signatures being collected?
Congress sources claimed that Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar is drumming up support for himself by collecting signatures from legislators in his favour. They described the number as “substantial”.
“It is definitely far more than the support he received at the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) meeting in May 2023,” said a source.
“He has been working to secure numbers.” Another source said that the number of legislators in the “neutral camp” that is looking forward for a decision by the high command either way is also swelling. However, sources in the Chief Minister’s Office refuted news of a signature campaign, saying no such thing was happening.
BJP alleges horse trading, DKS hits back
Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly R. Ashok on Monday alleged that “horse-trading” of MLAs had begun in the ruling Congress and claimed that money up to the tune of ₹60 crore to ₹70 crore was being transacted, over attempts to effect leadership change.
“Leaders claim they have the support of 60 to 70 MLAs. Horse-trading has begun,” he said.
Deputy Chief Minister and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president D.K. Shivakumar hit back at Mr. Ashok, saying horse-trading of MLAs was “BJP culture.”
“Last time when they formed the government how many thousand crores did they spend? What was offered to MLAs to defect, was even mentioned in the Assembly and is now part of the records,” he said.
Published – November 24, 2025 09:31 pm IST
