Karnataka CM change ruled out for now, says AICC chief Kharge amid leadership tussle
Synopsis
AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge has put a lid on Karnataka CM change speculation — for now. But with Shivakumar's camp publicly claiming a May 15 handover and rival ministers flying to Delhi, the Congress high command faces a ticking clock on one of its most fractious state-level succession battles.
Key Takeaways
AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge on 30 April stated that replacing CM Siddaramaiah "does not arise at present".
Kharge said any leadership change would require deliberations with Sonia Gandhi , Rahul Gandhi , and senior party leaders.
Shivakumar's three-day Delhi visit and rival ministerial delegations triggered the latest escalation.
Congress MLA Iqbal Hussain has claimed Shivakumar will become CM on May 15 , his 64th birthday .
Kharge dismissed speculation about his own CM candidature as largely media-driven.
Indian National Congress (INC) President Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday, 30 April firmly stated that Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will not be replaced in the near future, seeking to douse speculation that has engulfed the state unit for weeks. The assertion came as senior Cabinet ministers and rival camp leaders intensified pressure on the party high command for clarity on the leadership question.
What Kharge Said
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Kharge said the question of replacing Siddaramaiah "does not arise at present" and that the Chief Minister will continue in office. He added that any decision on a leadership change would require deliberations involving the party's top brass, including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.
"If there is any question of changing the Chief Minister, we will all sit together and discuss it. Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and all of us will deliberate on the matter," Kharge said. He also signalled that the matter is not imminent, remarking, "Let the time come."
Kharge Dismisses His Own CM Candidature
When asked about his own potential candidature for the Chief Minister's post, Kharge dismissed the speculation as largely media-driven. He reiterated that the party's decisions are taken collectively by the top leadership and underscored that Karnataka already has a Chief Minister in office.
Kharge stated: "Everyone says it, and the media reports it. The party's top leadership and leaders from both sides say it would be good if I become the Chief Minister. However, rather than treating it as a matter of fate, we work according to our party's ideology. Most of our decisions are taken by Sonia Gandhi. In any case, that question does not arise now, as Karnataka already has a Chief Minister in place."
The Leadership Tussle: How It Escalated
The power struggle came to the forefront following a three-day visit by Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to Delhi. Shortly after, several Cabinet ministers aligned with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also flew to Delhi, urging the party high command to clarify the leadership question. The duelling delegations underscored a deepening factional divide within the Karnataka Congress unit.
This is not the first time the Karnataka Congress has been roiled by succession politics. The party had reportedly agreed to a power-sharing arrangement when it swept to power in May 2023, with Siddaramaiah taking the first stint as Chief Minister. Shivakumar's camp has long argued that a rotation is now due.
May 15 Deadline Claimed by Shivakumar Camp
Leaders from Shivakumar's camp have publicly claimed that he will become Chief Minister on May 15, framing it as a "gift" from the high command on the occasion of his 64th birthday. Congress MLA Iqbal Hussain, a staunch Shivakumar supporter, made the claim on Tuesday in Ramanagara, stating that Shivakumar would "surely" assume the top post by that date.
Hussain acknowledged he had previously given two or three dates that did not materialise, but said May 15 was now his "final date". He added that it was the wish of all leaders and the people that Shivakumar should get an opportunity to serve as Chief Minister, and that it was also his personal wish.
What Happens Next
Kharge's statement, while firm, stops short of a categorical long-term commitment to Siddaramaiah's tenure, leaving the door open for a future leadership review. With May 15 looming as a self-imposed deadline by Shivakumar's supporters, pressure on the Congress high command is unlikely to ease in the coming days. How Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi choose to manage the Karnataka situation will be closely watched as a test of the party's ability to govern coalition-style majority governments without internal fractures.
Point of View
Not a resolution. The Congress high command has a familiar problem: it made a power-sharing promise in Karnataka that it now has to either honour or manage away. Shivakumar's camp publicly announcing a May 15 deadline is a pressure tactic, but it also boxes the high command in — if the date passes without a change, Shivakumar's credibility takes a hit; if it is honoured, Siddaramaiah's camp will cry foul. The real question is whether the Congress can afford a visible internal rupture in its only large southern state government, particularly with national electoral calculations always in the background.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Will Karnataka's Chief Minister change anytime soon?
According to AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, a change in Karnataka's Chief Minister does not arise at present and Siddaramaiah will continue in office. Any future decision would require deliberations involving Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and senior party leaders.
Why is there speculation about a Karnataka CM change?
The speculation stems from a reported power-sharing arrangement within the Karnataka Congress when it came to power in May 2023, with Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar's camp arguing a leadership rotation is now due. Shivakumar's three-day Delhi visit and rival ministerial delegations to the high command intensified the pressure.
When does Shivakumar's camp claim he will become CM?
Leaders from D.K. Shivakumar's camp, including Congress MLA Iqbal Hussain, have publicly claimed he will become Chief Minister on May 15 — framed as a birthday gift on the occasion of his 64th birthday. The Congress high command has not confirmed this.
What did Kharge say about his own candidature for Karnataka CM?
Kharge dismissed speculation about his own CM candidature, calling it largely media-driven. He stated that Karnataka already has a Chief Minister and that the party's decisions are taken collectively by the top leadership.
Who are the key figures in the Karnataka Congress leadership dispute?
The central figures are Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, and AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge. Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are cited as the ultimate decision-makers within the Congress high command on the matter.
