Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday put an end to immediate speculation over a possible leadership change in Karnataka, asserting that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will continue in office for now. His remarks come amid renewed internal discussions and public statements from some party leaders regarding a potential change in the state’s top post.

Speaking to reporters, Kharge clarified that there is no question of replacing the Chief Minister at present. He said that any decision regarding leadership transition would only be taken after consultations with senior Congress leadership, including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. According to him, such matters are not decided unilaterally and require collective discussion within the party’s top decision-making structure.

Kharge further added that there is sufficient time to consider any leadership-related issues and that the matter would be addressed at an appropriate stage if required. He dismissed ongoing speculation, saying the current focus should remain on governance rather than internal political debates. “Let the time come,” he said, indicating that no immediate change is being planned.

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Responding to questions about whether he himself was being considered for the Chief Minister’s post, Kharge rejected the speculation outright. He said such discussions were largely driven by media narratives rather than official party deliberations. He also reiterated that Congress decisions are taken collectively by the central leadership and emphasised that Karnataka already has a functioning Chief Minister in Siddaramaiah.

The remarks come at a time when political discussions within the Karnataka Congress have intensified following visits by senior leaders to New Delhi. Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar recently travelled to the national capital, followed by other ministers aligned with Siddaramaiah, who reportedly urged the party high command to clarify the leadership situation. This has fuelled speculation about possible internal negotiations within the state unit.

Adding to the uncertainty, some leaders from Shivakumar’s camp have publicly claimed that he could become Chief Minister around mid-May, coinciding with his birthday. However, Kharge’s statement has effectively signalled that no immediate change is on the table, at least until the party’s central leadership formally takes up the issue.

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