Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has firmly rejected rumors suggesting a shift in the state’s leadership. He clarified that any decisions regarding leadership changes will be made by the Congress high command, and crucially, only after the conclusion of the Bihar Assembly elections. When pressed by reporters in Mysuru about speculation involving his deputy, D.K. Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah appeared visibly irked. He questioned the basis of such rumors, stating, “It does not matter what people say. Anyone may say anything. Tell me, who is the high command? It is Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge. Have they said anything on this? Then why raise it? It’s not what people say, it’s the media that keeps talking about it.”
The Chief Minister reiterated his plan to consult with Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and party president Mallikarjun Kharge, after the Bihar elections, which are scheduled for November 6 and 11. He announced his intention to visit Delhi on November 15 for these discussions.
Siddaramaiah also mentioned that he had not been invited to campaign in Bihar but expressed confidence in the INDIA alliance’s success there. He commented on Nitish Kumar’s political stance, stating, “This time, the INDIA Alliance will come to power in Bihar because people are tired of Nitish Kumar. He has no ideology. He has been with every alliance.” He further added that despite Nitish Kumar adopting some of their guaranteed schemes, the public would not support him.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who also leads the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), addressed the Bihar Association in North Bengaluru. He urged Bihari residents in Karnataka to support the Mahagathbandhan, encouraging them to take leave to vote. Shivakumar expressed that personal political gains were secondary to the alliance’s success, stating, “If the Mahagathbandhan comes to power in Bihar, it is as if you have given me all the seats.” He also promised to allocate land for a community facility for the association and instructed employers to provide leave for their workers to participate in the polls.
Shivakumar voiced his support for Tejashwi Yadav, mentioning Rahul Gandhi’s endorsement for the Bihar Chief Minister post, and also expressed his hope for Rahul Gandhi to become the Prime Minister. Political discourse in Karnataka has seen increased discussion about the Congress party’s internal dynamics, with Shivakumar’s rising popularity fueling leadership change speculation as the government approaches its halfway mark. However, senior party leaders, including Home Minister G. Parameshwara and Urban Development Minister Byrathi Suresh, have consistently dismissed these rumors, asserting that the high command holds the ultimate decision-making power.