We will face the 2028 elections under the leadership of former CM Siddaramaiah, says the minister

Satish Jarkiholi. Tenderloin. | Photo credit: K. Murali Kumar

The Congress party will face the upcoming 2028 Karnataka Assembly elections under the able leadership of former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Satish Jarkiholi, minister and senior Congress leader, said on Monday (July 13, 2026) in Belagavi.

“Ignoring former CM Siddaramaiah is out of the question. It is clear that we will face the next elections under his leadership,” he told reporters at the Zilla Panchayat.

When asked, he said that there is no need to discuss the change of leadership in the AHINDA organization. “The first priority before us is to strengthen AHIND and expand its organizational base. If there are changes, we will come to know about them from time to time. There is no need to highlight such issues now. We all need to focus now on organizing the AHIND communities,” he said.

He said the party high command would take the final call on the cabinet expansion. “We are confident that the senior leaders will take an appropriate decision after considering all the factors that will benefit the party the most in the coming elections,” he said.

Regarding the farmers’ demand for an increase in the purchase prices of milk, he said that the concerned minister and the ministry would take appropriate decisions in this matter.

“Currently there is no shortage of drinking water for people and livestock in the district. Sowing has almost been completed and there are indications that rainfall may occur. But if there is no timely rain, the government has pledged to conduct a joint survey immediately and provide adequate compensation to farmers,” he said.

He demanded that the union government should take the case of alleged diversion of funds from the Ayodhya Ram temple very seriously. “Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has already given strict advice and instructions to the officials concerned to ensure that such cases do not happen in Karnataka. The government believes that the donations received from devotees should be used for the development work of these temples and we will work towards it,” he said.

Published – 14 Jul 2026 10:02 IST