Bengaluru, May 25 -- Amid buzz over leadership change and a Cabinet reshuffle in Karnataka, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday said the Congress high command has invited him to Delhi on May 26 for a meeting.
He, however, said he was unaware of the meeting's agenda.
"I'm invited to Delhi. Tomorrow there is a meeting by 11 am. I don't know the subject. But, I'm invited. Last night, K C Venugopal (AICC general secretary - Organisation) called me and intimated to me about the date and the meeting," Siddaramaiah told reporters in response to a question on his visit to the national capital.
To a question regarding speculation surrounding his meeting with the high command, he said, "It is always there."
Speculations are rife about the leadership change and cabinet reshuffle, as the government completed three years in office on May 20.
According to party and official sources, although the Congress high command is widely expected to discuss resolving the leadership tussle between Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar, discussions may also involve upcoming elections to four Rajya Sabha seats from Karnataka, of which Congress can win three. The rollout of SIR of electoral rolls in the state might also figure in the meeting.
Meanwhile, responding to a question by reporters about him visiting Delhi, Shivakumar said, "If I'm called (by the high command), I will go."
Later, once again speaking to reporters, he said if the party calls he will go; otherwise, he will not.
"I don't know what Surjewala (AICC General Secretary in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala, who is in Bengaluru) will tell. I will ask him. If he asks me to come (to Delhi), I will go. Otherwise I will stay here," he said.
Asked whether the discussions related to Rajya Sabha polls were likely during the Delhi visit, he said, "Whenever the party calls we have to go. Otherwise, I will not go."
Not wanting to respond to a question about the CM change issue, Shivakumar said, "I don't know about it, I don't want to comment on it, it's not my job."
Meanwhile, responding to a question on BJP national president Nitin Nabin reportedly asking party leaders in Karnataka to work for a party win in 2028, Shivakumar said, "Write it down: in 2028 this same D K Shivakumar, Congress government will be here (in power)."
"Let him (Nabin) say anything. What did Amit Shah say in 2023--that the BJP would get 122 seats and had asked his party leaders to prepare for the swearing-in. I had said Congress will win 136 seats...." he added.
Supporters of Shivakumar have been insisting on his elevation in line with a reported power-sharing agreement with Siddaramaiah when the party won the 2023 Assembly elections.
Siddaramaiah has repeatedly asserted that he will complete a full five years term. He also stated that he will abide by the high command's decision and would visit Delhi to discuss if called by the party.
Shivakumar, on his part, has consistently maintained that he will abide by the Congress leadership's decision, and time will reveal the outcome regarding the CM change.
Several party leaders are worried that the leadership issue is impacting governance and the image of the Congress government. They have openly demanded that the high command resolve the issue keeping the party's prospects in the 2028 Assembly polls in mind.
Demand has also grown from a large section of Congress MLAs, who are ministerial aspirants to effect a Cabinet reshuffle, and give some of them an opportunity to serve as ministers by replacing a few existing ones.
Some aspirants have also traveled to Delhi to meet the party high command regarding this, while a few of them are planning another trip to the national capital by this month to push for the reshuffle.
According to party sources, while Siddaramaiah favours a Cabinet reshuffle, Shivakumar wants the party to decide on the leadership change first.
According to several party insiders, if the Congress high command approves the Cabinet reshuffle, it would signal that the incumbent CM will complete the full five-year term, which will scuttle Shivakumar's chances of occupying the coveted post.
Karnataka has a sanctioned strength of 34 ministers, including the chief minister.
Three Cabinet berths are currently vacant. B Nagendra resigned over embezzlement allegations at the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki ST Development Corporation, and K N Rajanna was sacked on the party high command's instructions. The recent death of Minister D Sudhakar created a third vacancy.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.