Karnataka leadership: Will abide by high command's decision, says CM

Amid leadership change talks in Karnataka, CM Siddaramaiah said he and Dy CM DK Shivakumar will abide by the Congress high command's decision. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also stated that the high command will take the final call.

Amid speculations about a possible change in Karnataka's leadership, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stated that he, along with Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, will accept and act according to the decision of the Congress high command.

Will Act According to High Command: Siddaramaiah

Speaking to reporters, Siddaramaiah said, "D.K. Shivakumar and I should abide by the decision of the party high command. Whatever the high command decides, D.K. Shivakumar and I should agree. We will act according to the decision of the party high command..."

He recalled meeting with the high command five years ago and the discussion about the cabinet reshuffle. "When the high command met five months ago, they had instructed a reshuffle of the cabinet. I had told them that we would do it after completing two and a half years. Now, we will act according to whatever instructions are given," he added.

His remarks come amid growing speculation about a change in the Chief Ministerial face of Karnataka, fueled by the "power-sharing agreement" of 2023 between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, which has been cited frequently in political circles.

'High Command Will Do It': Mallikarjun Kharge

Meanwhile, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday asserted that the high command will decide on the issue of a change in the Chief Ministerial face.

"I have nothing to say," Kharge said while addressing reporters outside his residence here. "You have been standing here continuously for three days. There is nothing to say about the developments happening here. Whatever happens, the high command will do it. It is not required to worry too much about it," he added.

Speculation Linked to Cabinet Reshuffle

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah earlier downplayed speculation about a leadership change in the state, terming it an "unnecessary debate" and attributing it to recent discussions about a cabinet reshuffle.

The Chief Minister clarified that the senior party leadership would make the final decisions regarding the reshuffle, as two of the total 34 ministerial posts in Karnataka are currently vacant and would be filled during the process. (ANI)

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