Speculation surrounding a possible leadership change in Karnataka erupted on the floor of the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, leading to sharp exchanges between the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah strongly asserted his position, declaring from within the Well of the House that he continues to enjoy the confidence of the party high command.

Responding to remarks from BJP leader Sunil Kumar, Siddaramaiah reiterated that he would continue in office as long as the Congress leadership wished. Doubling down on his stance, he stated emphatically, “I am the Chief Minister and I will remain the Chief Minister in the future,” seeking to put to rest rumours of an imminent change at the top.

The confrontation followed a disruption triggered by Kunigal MLA Ranganath, who raised concerns over inadequate funding for agricultural credit cooperative societies and farmer support in his constituency. While Siddaramaiah assured him that the issue would be addressed, the BJP alleged selective treatment, questioning the timing and intent behind the query.

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Leader of the Opposition R Ashok intensified the attack by linking the issue to internal Congress dynamics. He pointed out that Ranganath is related to Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who has been widely viewed as a contender for the Chief Minister’s post. Ashok claimed Shivakumar had openly expressed ambitions to lead the state, adding fuel to the leadership debate.

As BJP members continued their criticism, Siddaramaiah accused the opposition of exploiting internal party matters to destabilise the government. He maintained that repeated attempts to highlight internal differences would not weaken the administration and asserted that the Congress government in Karnataka remained stable and united.

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