Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge was addressing reporters at his residence in Kalaburagi on Sunday.
With a section of Congress leaders hoping that the high command would end the confusion caused by the leadership tussle, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday – without naming anyone – blamed local leaders for creating the confusion.
“The Congress high command has not created any ruckus. It is some leaders in the state (Congress) who are doing it,” Mr. Kharge told presspersons in Kalaburagi on Sunday.
He was responding to queries regarding a letter sent to him by some leaders seeking intervention to resolve the wrangles in the state unit of the party. “I have not yet received any such letter. I will try to understand its purpose as soon as it reaches me.”
For over two months now, the leadership tussle between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has intensified with public statements being made by their supporters in favor of their leaders.
“Power Sharing Pact”
The government, which crossed its term limit on November 20, has reignited speculation of a “power-sharing deal” between the two leaders, who are now seeking a solution from the party high command.
Warning against projecting the Congress as dependent on one person, Mr Kharge said, “Nobody should claim that they alone brought the party to power or built the Congress. The party was built by its workers. Every leader and worker had a role to play in strengthening the party.”
Amid a show of unanimity from both camps, Mr Shivakumar met his fierce opponent and on Saturday night fired former minister KN Rajanna, who had publicly backed Mr Siddaramaiah to complete a full five-year term.
While the two leaders did not reveal the purpose of the meeting, it was learned that Mr. Shivakumar wanted to offer a truce in his bid to gain the confidence of each leader as he puts pressure on the Chief Minister. The Deputy Chief Minister also met Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi, another confidant of the Chief Minister, recently.
Sources said the meeting was also to get Mr. Rajanna’s support for Congress MLC S. Ravi, a relative of Mr. Shivakumar, in the Apex Bank president election.
‘Rajanna is close to me too’
“Is the Chief Minister close to him (Mr. Rajanna)? He (Mr. Rajanna) is also close to me. Who is not close to him (Mr. Rajanna)? I made Mr. Rajanna the President of Apex Bank during SM Krishna’s tenure as Chief Minister. All Congress leaders are working together. We all asked if we met Mr. Rajanna Shivakumar,” said Mr. Rajanna Shivakumar. support.
On handling the dispute, he said, “Aren’t we the chief minister and I work as brothers? I have no differences with any Congress leaders. Have I had any differences with the chief minister since he joined the party 16 years ago? I have not spoken against anyone.”
The Deputy Prime Minister also claimed that there was no confusion in the party and said it was a creation of the BJP and the media. “The BJP is trying to cover up its own internal mess,” he said.
Visiting Delhi
The deputy chief minister, who will be in Delhi this week to meet Union ministers, would also like to meet central party officials to press his case, sources close to him said. Incidentally, the Chief Minister is also likely to be in Delhi next week to attend the Congress Working Committee meeting.
Meanwhile, Mr. Rajanna said the discussion revolved around strengthening the party. When asked about his opposition to Mr. Shivakumar in the past, he clarified, “There is no change in my stand. Whatever I said then, I stand by it. Ultimately, the issue of leadership depends on the high command. The Chief Minister also reiterated that the high command matters.”
Published – 21 Dec 2025 19:30 IST
