Karnataka Congress Crisis Live: Deadlock continues as Rahul Gandhi meets Mallikarjun Kharge

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi is once again meeting Mallikarjun Kharge and KC Venugopal at the AICC headquarters. CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar kept out of this meeting. 

(Inputs from Nagarjun Dwarkanath)

Currently, CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar are having lunch with Randeep Surjewala and KC Venugopal. Congress MP Rahul Gandhi is expected to meet the Deputy CM after lunch. 

(Inputs from Anagha)

BJP leader Amit Malviya took a swipe at the Congress amid the ongoing Karnataka leadership buzz, questioning the repeated Delhi visits of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D K Shivakumar for meetings with the party high command. In a post on X, Malviya alleged that the Congress had reduced governance in Karnataka to “a theatre of intrigue, insecurity and endless power tussles”.

He also claimed there was growing political buzz around Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and the possibility of his son Priyank Kharge or Home Minister G Parameshwara emerging in the leadership conversation if Siddaramaiah were asked to step aside. Malviya further questioned how Shivakumar would react to such a scenario as Congress leaders continue deliberations in Delhi.

The meeting between Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi concluded inside Rahul Gandhi’s chamber on Tuesday. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar was later seen waiting outside with Siddaramaiah, while party chief Mallikarjun Kharge held another round of discussions with Rahul Gandhi.

-Nagarjun Dwarkanath input

The meeting between Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi began at Indira Bhavan in Delhi on Tuesday amid intense speculation over Karnataka’s leadership future. Before the one-on-one interaction, the Congress leadership held discussions with AICC general secretary KC Venugopal and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala for around one-and-a-half hours as the party weighed its next move in the state.

Amid ongoing speculation over a leadership change and Cabinet reshuffle in Karnataka, senior Congress leader M Veerappa Moily said the time for internal opinions was over and all party leaders and workers should abide by the high command’s decision.

“We are a democratic party. Everything will be presented to the high command. They will make the right decision,” Moily said in Bengaluru as crucial discussions on Karnataka’s political future continued in Delhi.

On the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections, Moily reiterated that he was keen on entering the Upper House, saying he would not contest Lok Sabha polls anymore and believed he could contribute more effectively to the party and the country as a Rajya Sabha MP.

(ANI)

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar were seen at the Congress headquarters, Indira Bhavan, in Delhi on Tuesday as the party leadership began crucial discussions on Karnataka’s political situation.

Top Congress leaders gathered at Indira Bhavan in Delhi on Tuesday for the much-awaited meeting on Karnataka’s political future amid ongoing speculation over a leadership change in the state.

Among those present at the party headquarters were Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, senior leader Rahul Gandhi, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, AICC general secretary KC Venugopal and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala.

Minister Byrathi Suresh was also present at Siddaramaiah's power breakfast right before Congress high command meeting in Delhi on Tuesday.

Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshawara attends Siddaramaiah's power breakfast ahead of key Congress meeting.

Ministers MB Patil, BK Hariprasad were among those present at Siddaramaiah's power breakfast ahead of Congress high command meeting on Tuesday.

Amid intense speculation over Karnataka’s leadership future, Congress leader BK Hariprasad said he was unaware of the exact agenda of the high command meeting but confirmed that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had been called to Delhi by the party leadership through KC Venugopal. He said discussions with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi would focus on Karnataka’s political strategy, upcoming elections, the SIR issue and organisational matters.

Dismissing reports of a possible change in Chief Minister, Hariprasad said such discussions were being driven largely by the media and social media. He also hit out at the BJP, saying Congress was fully capable of handling its internal affairs and did not require advice from rivals.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday met Congress general secretaries KC Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala at the party headquarters, Indira Bhavan, in Delhi.

The meeting comes amid heightened speculation over Karnataka’s leadership future, with the Congress high command holding crucial discussions on the state’s political situation, including buzz around a possible regime change and Cabinet reshuffle.

Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi reached the Congress headquarters in Delhi on Tuesday as the much-awaited meeting on Karnataka’s leadership situation got underway.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar are expected to hold key discussions with the party leadership amid intense speculation over a possible leadership change and Cabinet reshuffle in the state.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday avoided questions on the much-anticipated Karnataka leadership discussions and speculation surrounding his possible role in the state’s political developments.

When asked by reporters about the “big meeting” with Karnataka leaders and whether he would be ready to go to Karnataka, Kharge declined to respond verbally and instead greeted the media with folded hands and a “namaste” before moving on.

Kharge is expected to hold key discussions with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar amid growing speculation over a possible leadership change and Cabinet reshuffle in the state.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah shared a breakfast meeting with his ministers in Delhi ahead of a crucial engagement with the Congress high command, which is expected to address speculation over a possible leadership change in the state. (Inputs by Nagarjun Dwarkanath)

Ahead of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah meeting the Congress high command in Delhi, Karnataka minister MB Patil said there was no clarity yet on the exact agenda of the discussions.

“No one has any information about it. It could be about the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections, MLC elections... There could be a Cabinet reshuffle as well,” Patil said while responding to questions on the ongoing leadership speculation in the state.

He added that “only Rahul Gandhi knows about it,” and said the details would become clear after Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D. K. Shivakumar meet the Congress leadership in Delhi.

(ANI)

Amid intensifying speculation over a possible leadership change in Karnataka, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar responded with a smile and remained silent when asked whether he was set to become the next Chief Minister.

Amid mounting speculation over Karnataka’s political future, sources said Tuesday’s meeting between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy CM DK Shivakumar and the Congress high command is likely to clear the air around the regime change buzz in the state.

According to sources, a final decision could be taken on Siddaramaiah’s tenure as Chief Minister during the discussions in Delhi. The meeting is being closely watched amid growing chatter over a possible leadership transition and Cabinet reshuffle after the Congress government completed three years in office.

(Source: Rahul Gautam)

Amid intense speculation over Karnataka’s leadership future, sources said the Congress high command is facing a “Catch-22” situation over Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who is seen as the party’s tallest OBC leader in the state and remains one of its most influential mass faces.

According to sources, party leaders are concerned that removing Siddaramaiah could trigger a strong backlash among OBC communities, given his continued popularity and political standing in Karnataka.

Sources added that senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is expected to approach the discussions with an open mind and without preconceived positions. He is likely to hear all sides separately before holding consultations with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on the way forward for the state leadership issue.

(Source: Nagarjun Dwarakanath)