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High Command's Decision Final, Party Bigger Than Any Individual: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is really driving home the point that the Congress high command's word is final on any leadership questions. He and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar are both publicly stating they'll only go to Delhi together if the party bosses call them, which seems like an effort to show unity. Honestly, it feels like they're trying really hard to shut down all this persistent speculation about a power-sharing deal or a switch in the top job. At

Key Points: Siddaramaiah, DK Shivakumar on Karnataka Leadership, Congress High Command Authority

  • Karnataka CM asserts high command's authority
  • Deputy CM states he will visit Delhi only when summoned
  • Congress president dismisses central leadership confusion
  • CM rejects existence of power-sharing agreement
  • BJP alleges state interests ignored amid tussle
  • Leaders hold joint press conference to project unity
3 min read

High command's decision final, party bigger than any individual: Siddaramaiah

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah asserts Congress high command's final say on leadership, dismissing power-sharing speculation. Deputy CM DK Shivakumar says he will visit Delhi only when called.

"The High Command's decision is final. What Kharge ji said is right, that the party is bigger than any individual. - Siddaramaiah / Karnataka Chief Minister"

Bengaluru (Karnataka)

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah reiterated that the Congress party high command remains the ultimate authority on leadership matters, stressing that individual ambitions are secondary to the organisation.

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [ndia]: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah reiterated that the Congress party high command remains the ultimate authority on leadership matters, stressing that individual ambitions are secondary to the organisation.

"The High Command's decision is final. What Kharge ji said is right, that the party is bigger than any individual," Siddaramaiah said on Monday.

Earlier, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge sought to dispel speculation about a leadership tussle in Karnataka, asserting that there is no confusion at the central leadership level and that any such perception is limited to the state unit.

Amid renewed speculation about power sharing in Karnataka, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar reiterated that he would travel to New Delhi only when called by the Congress high command, and that too along with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

Shivakumar made the remarks while speaking to reporters in Bengaluru on Saturday when asked whether he and the Chief Minister would visit Delhi to meet the party leadership.

"I won't travel to Delhi secretively. I will travel with the CM when the High Command calls us. We will inform you (media) if we are travelling," DK Shivakumar said.

Meanwhile, Siddaramaiah had firmly rejected claims of a "two-and-a-half-year" power-sharing agreement, asserting that he continues to be the Chief Minister until the party leadership decides otherwise.

"First, the people must bless us. Then the legislators elect the leader in the Legislative Party meeting, and after that, the high command decides. That is all I have said. Even now, I am the Chief Minister, and I will remain the Chief Minister until the high command decides otherwise," Siddaramaiah stated.

Speculation over whether DK Shivakumar would be appointed Chief Minister by the Congress high command had persisted for a few days, before the party moved to quell the buzz after the two leaders met for breakfast at each other's residences and later addressed a joint press conference to project unity.

Earlier, DK Shivakumar dismissed speculation about a reported dinner meeting.

"Who said? There was no dinner meeting or anything. I had gone for dinner to my former DCC president to pay respect, as they contributed a lot to Karnataka, Belgavi. So to honour them, I went along with my friends. There is no other politics," Shivakumar said.

Meanwhile, BJP MLC Chalavadi Narayanaswamy alleged that amid the tussle between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar over the top post, the interests of the state have been ignored.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
While discipline is important, this constant "high command" talk feels very top-down. The people of Karnataka elected their MLAs, shouldn't their voices matter more in who leads them? The process seems opaque.
V
Vikram M
All this drama is just before the Lok Sabha elections. Both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar are capable leaders, but this public speculation is not good for governance. Development work suffers when ministers are busy with Delhi trips and press conferences.
P
Priyanka N
The BJP MLC is right to point out that state interests are being ignored. Instead of talking about who sits in the CM chair, they should be talking about solving Bengaluru's traffic, water issues, and inflation. Ye sab natak bandh karo!
D
DK Shivakumar
Shivakumar showing great maturity by saying he will only go to Delhi when called, and with the CM. This shows unity. He built the party in Karnataka from ground up, his loyalty is unquestionable. Hope the high command does justice.
A
Aman W
Classic Congress culture. Everything decided in Delhi by a few people. They talk about federalism but can't even let state units decide their own leaders properly. The "breakfast meetings" and press conferences feel so staged.

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