CM, DKS call for end to leadership speculation

Chief minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar sought to put to rest the ongoing speculation over a possible leadership change in the state, reiterating that the issue had not been discussed with the Congress high command and dismissing any talk of a power-sharing arrangement.

- Arun Dev

Speaking to reporters in Delhi on Friday, Siddaramaiah categorically stated, “How many times do I tell you, it (speculations around Karnataka CM post) was not discussed at all? This issue was not discussed at all with the high command.”

The chief minister's comments came a day after he and other senior leaders met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge in Delhi, fuelling rumours that the high command might be weighing a leadership shift. Siddaramaiah posted on X (formerly Twitter) that the meeting focused on “several important issues.”

“In Delhi, AICC leaders and senior state leaders met Mallikarjun Kharge at his residence and held discussions on several important issues,” his post read.