Karnataka power tussle: More pro-Shivakumar MLAs fly to Delhi

Another group of legislators aligned with Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has flown to New Delhi to meet senior Congress leaders, as the power tussle over a possible change of chief minister intensifies in Karnataka, party sources said on Monday (November 24).

Also read | Kharge breaks silence, says decision on Karnataka CM rests with high command

According to sources, at least six MLAs reached the national capital late on Sunday, with more expected to follow. The lawmakers are reportedly heading to Delhi to push Shivakumar’s case for the chief minister’s post, they added.

Leadership battle heats up

The power tussle within the ruling party has intensified, amid speculation about chief minister change in the state, after the Congress government reached the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20, citing an alleged "power-sharing" agreement involving CM Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar in 2023.

Among the legislators in Delhi include MLAs HC Balakrishna (Magadi), KM Uday (Maddur), Nayana Motamma (Mudigere), Iqbal Hussain (Ramanagara), Sharath Bachegowd (Hosakote), and Shivaganga Basavaraj (Channagiri), party sources said.

AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, who is in Bengaluru, is scheduled to travel to Delhi, even as Rahul Gandhi is likely to return from trip abroad, sources added.

Last week some legislators, about 10 of them, supporting Shivakumar travelled to New Delhi and met Kharge, as the Congress government completed 2.5 years in office on November 20.

Shivakumar, however, had then said he was not aware of legislators travelling to Delhi to meet Kharge.

Siddaramaiah signals full term

Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Monday that he would continue in office if the Congress high command wished him to do so. He earlier held more than an hour long meeting with Kharge at his residence in Bengaluru.

Also read | Siddaramaiah denies Karnataka leadership change after meeting Kharge

The final decision on any change of leadership rests with the high command, he noted, adding that both he and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar would abide by whatever it decides.

While Siddaramaiah is pushing for a reshuffle of his Cabinet, Shivakumar wants the party to first decide on leadership change, party sources said.

According to several party insiders, if the Congress high command approves the Cabinet reshuffle, it would signal that Siddaramaiah will complete the full five-year term, which will scuttle the chances of Shivakumar from occupying the coveted post.

He said that four-five months ago, the high command had agreed for a Cabinet reshuffle, but he had suggested that the government should complete 2.5 years in office. The CM said, "Now we will follow whatever the high command decides."