Siddaramaiah Backs High Command as Final Word in Karnataka Congress Leadership Row

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday sought to put to rest ongoing speculation about leadership issues within the ruling Congress by asserting that the party high command’s decision would be final. Responding to questions on internal discussions, he made it clear that he remains fully committed to the leadership’s directives.

“I will not comment on D.K. Shivakumar’s statements. Whatever the high command decides is final,” Siddaramaiah told reporters. He added that questions regarding the Deputy Chief Minister’s remarks should be directed to Shivakumar himself, underlining that he would not engage in speculation or public debate on the matter.

On reports that he may visit Delhi amid the leadership buzz, Siddaramaiah dismissed the idea unless formally called. He said he was currently focused on budget preparations in the state and would travel to the national capital only if invited by the party leadership.

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Addressing queries about Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress president D.K. Shivakumar’s absence from a key budget meeting, Siddaramaiah clarified that Shivakumar had sought prior permission. He said the Deputy CM had informed him through a letter about his scheduled visit to Delhi for a meeting related to the Assam Assembly elections.

The Chief Minister also responded cautiously to a Supreme Court observation stating it would not tolerate obstruction to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Siddaramaiah said he would study the context of the observation before making any comment, stressing the need for a measured response.

Earlier in the day, Siddaramaiah paid floral tributes to former Chief Minister Kengal Hanumanthaiah on his birth anniversary at Vidhana Soudha before addressing the media. Meanwhile, signs of strain within the Karnataka Congress continue to surface, with Shivakumar reiterating that both leaders are aligned with discussions held jointly with the party high command.

Shivakumar also appealed to party leaders to avoid making public statements on leadership matters, a remark widely seen as a response to comments by Congress MLC Yathindra, Siddaramaiah’s son. Reiterating unity, Shivakumar said that there was no confusion between him and the Chief Minister and that both were acting strictly in accordance with the understanding reached with the party leadership.

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