On one hand, Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi are focusing on claiming power in Bihar, but internal disputes and voices of dissent are surfacing in Karnataka. Though Congress holds power in Karnataka, there's jockeying for positions within.
Internal struggles within the Karnataka Congress organization have intensified. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar have been stationed in Delhi, seeking an audience with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. However, Rahul has yet to schedule a meeting with them.
Speculations about changing the Karnataka Congress President are gaining momentum. Legislators Iqbal Hussain, C.P. Yogeshwar, Uday Gowda, and Tanveer Sait stand in favor of leadership change in the state unit. Whereas Satish Jarkiholi, Mahadevappa, and Zamir Ahmed stand against changing the state president.
On Friday in Delhi, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah met Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. Speaking to the media post-meeting, Siddaramaiah asserted that there was no discussion on the leadership issue with Kharge. He reiterated that the matter is not on the high command's agenda.
Read Also: ‘My Seat Isn’t Vacant, I’ll be CM for 5 Years…’, Siddaramaiah Halts Leadership Change Rumors in Karnataka
On Thursday, Siddaramaiah's faction proposed Satish Jarkiholi’s name for the KPCC president to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. Currently, Satish is the PWD Minister in Siddaramaiah’s government and hails from the ST community.
The Siddaramaiah faction urged the Congress President to address the leadership change by August or September.
On Thursday, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah quashed the leadership change rumors, asserting that he will serve as Karnataka's CM for the full 5-year term.
