Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge said on Friday, 8 May that discussions on the Chief Minister's post in Kerala would be held during the day, with the final decision to be conveyed to the Congress high command. The minister, who also serves as the son of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, made the remarks while speaking to the media in Bengaluru.

Kerala CM Decision: What Priyank Kharge Said

Speaking to reporters, Priyank Kharge — who holds the Karnataka portfolios of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, IT, and Biotechnology — said a clear mandate had been achieved in Kerala. "Today, discussions will be held with everyone concerned and the decision will be conveyed to the Congress high command. AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi will make the final announcement. Everyone has stated that they will abide by the decision of the party high command," he said.

Tamil Nadu Governor Row: Congress Pushes Back

Turning to political developments in Tamil Nadu, Kharge criticised the state Governor's conduct, saying the mandate there was not being respected. "The majority need not be proved at the Governor's residence; it has to be proved on the floor of the House. If the majority cannot be proved in the House, that is a different matter. But how is it possible to demand proof of majority before that?" he asked.

He further alleged that, for the past 10 years, Governors' offices have been functioning "like offices of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)." Invoking the Maharashtra swearing-in controversy, he asked, "How many signatures were taken when the swearing-in ceremony was held in Maharashtra at 5 a.m.? Those holding Constitutional posts are not above the Constitution. Politics should not be pursued through Constitutional offices."

IPL Match-Shifting Row: Kharge Targets BJP and Amit Shah

On the controversy surrounding IPL matches being shifted away from Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy Stadium, Kharge stirred fresh controversy by asking whether Union Home Minister Amit Shah watches cricket matches by paying for tickets or watches them for free.

When asked whether pressure from legislators seeking IPL tickets had led to the matches being relocated, Kharge noted that BJP Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka had himself raised the issue of tickets on the floor of the House. "Senior BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka himself raised the issue on the floor of the House, and everyone later supported it," he said, questioning whether the BJP was therefore responsible for the matches being shifted out of Bengaluru.

Matches Moved to Gujarat: Karnataka Minister Alleges Profit Motive

Kharge alleged that the matches were being shifted to Gujarat purely for profit, drawing a parallel with what he described as a broader pattern of investments being diverted away from Karnataka. "They wanted higher profits and therefore shifted the matches out of Bengaluru. They are doing injustice to Karnataka in the same way they divert investments away from the state," he charged.

He also clarified that there were no security concerns involving legislators or MPs, and that no legislator had asked for any specific number of tickets. He added that the shift had already been condemned by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. The Kerala CM decision, meanwhile, is expected to be formalised and announced by the Congress high command later in the day.