'High Command Must Decide’: Siddaramaiah Signals Delhi to End Karnataka Turmoil

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday virtually threw the ball into the Congress High Command’s court, telling them to take a swift decision on Karnataka’s leadership or watch the “confusion” spiral further. Speaking to reporters, he shrugged off the flood of MLAs rushing to Delhi and said they were free to air their views, but the final word belongs only to Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge. “To put a full stop to all this, the High Command has to decide,” he declared, making it clear he is tired of the endless whispers.

The Chief Minister also poured cold water on an immediate cabinet reshuffle, saying nothing will move until the top leadership gives the green signal. Remarkably, he revealed he has no plans to personally meet Rahul Gandhi, signalling that the onus is now entirely on Delhi. Meanwhile, his deputy DK Shivakumar rushed to call Siddaramaiah’s statement “Veda Vakya” (words from the scriptures) and insisted the CM will remain in the chair till 2028, rubbishing any talk of a 2.5-year rotation deal that has haunted the party since the 2023 victory.

As more Congress MLAs book flights to the capital—ostensibly to lobby for berths ahead of a possible reshuffle—senior leaders tried to downplay the crisis. Housing Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan flatly denied any secret power-sharing pact, while Challakere MLA Shivanna reminded first-time legislators that only the High Command’s word is final, whether the next CM is Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar, or even himself. Yet the sight of dozens of party MLAs camping in Delhi has only fuelled speculation that a section is openly campaigning for DK Shivakumar to take over sooner than later.

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In the national capital, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge stonewalled every question on the Karnataka churn, snapping that leadership matters are never discussed in public or with the media. Sources say Kharge is furious with the open rebellion and has warned legislators that groupism and loose talk will invite strict disciplinary action. DK Shivakumar echoed the same sentiment, accusing the media of “creating tension for everyone” by tracking every Delhi-bound flight and hotel booking.

With the Congress desperate to project unity ahead of crucial local body polls and by-elections, the high command now faces an embarrassing deadline. Insiders claim a decision—either a public reaffirmation of Siddaramaiah till 2028 or a surprise power shift—could come within days. Until then, Karnataka remains on edge, with two power centres, restless MLAs, and a party leadership that can no longer pretend the fire is just smoke.

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