BENGALURU, Nov. 27 — Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday said he will convene a meeting in New Delhi with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and senior leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, to settle the escalating leadership debate in Karnataka.
“After going to Delhi, I will call three or four important leaders and discuss. After the discussion, we will say how to go ahead and put an end to the confusion,” Kharge told reporters.
Speculation of a change in leadership has intensified since the Congress government crossed the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20, reviving talk of a 2023 power-sharing understanding between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar.
Kharge said both the CM and deputy CM will be included. “We should certainly call them and discuss… Rahul Gandhi will be part of it,” he said. He added that the “high command means a team, not an individual,” and that the team will take the final decision.
Responding to Kharge’s remarks, Siddaramaiah said he will travel to Delhi “if I am called.” Shivakumar echoed him: “If they call, we will go.”
Meanwhile, Siddaramaiah held a meeting at his residence with senior ministers close to him, including G. Parameshwara, Satish Jarkiholi, H.C. Mahadevappa, K. Venkatesh and K.N. Rajanna, according to officials.
