Bengaluru, Nov 28 (NationPress) Amid the ongoing conflict for leadership between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar in Karnataka, Minister for RDPR, IT and BT Priyank Kharge, who is the son of AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, visited Dy CM and State Congress President D.K. Shivakumar at his Bengaluru residence.

Additionally, senior Congress figure and MLC B.K. Hariprasad engaged in discussions with the Minister for Food, K.H. Muniyappa.

Following their discussions, Minister Priyank Kharge remarked, "The high command is aware of the timing. A meeting will be convened at the right moment. Our party has a legacy of 130 years, and they will make the right call when the time is right. An official invitation for the meeting has not been received yet, and there have been no formal announcements in this context."

He continued, "Whether it's AICC General Secretary and Karnataka incharge Randeep Singh Surjewala or AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, if a meeting is called, leaders will participate. Both Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Dy CM Shivakumar have expressed their willingness to attend, emphasizing that the message must come from Delhi."

After his meeting with Minister K.H. Muniyappa, senior Dalit leader B.K. Hariprasad stated, "Our decisions will reflect the desires and aspirations of the people. We will make serious decisions after careful observation of developments and discussions. Our choices will be guided by the wishes of party workers and the general populace."

He added, "We will not take directives from Nagpur. Leaders must be mindful of their actions and ensure they do not offend party sentiments. No individual can claim sole credit for bringing the party to power. The victory was not solely due to 140 MLAs," Hariprasad emphasized.

He urged the high command to gather leaders in Delhi and address the ongoing issues.

"It is not just the 140 Congress MLAs who facilitated our victory. External support also played a crucial role. Votes against the BJP, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, along with those who opposed the BJP's governance, significantly contributed to the Congress win," he underscored.

"We must act in a way that respects these supporters. Mallikarjun Kharge hails from Karnataka; all leaders should collaborate to resolve these issues. The final decisions will rest with Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge," he concluded.

Minister for Food K.H. Muniyappa remarked, "Should the high command invite us, we will share our views. It is critical for the high command to involve the CM and Dy CM in discussions. We need to strategize for the upcoming 2028 Assembly election."

As the leadership conflict persists in Karnataka, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah asserted on Thursday that the "mandate endures for five years."

This situation has become particularly significant following Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's announcement on Thursday morning that he would summon both CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar to Delhi to settle the power-sharing dilemma in the state.

In a post on social media platform X, CM Siddaramaiah stated, "The mandate from the people of Karnataka represents a commitment that lasts five full years. The Congress party, including myself, is dedicated to serving our citizens with compassion, consistency, and courage."

His statement was a response to a vague message from Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar earlier in the day regarding "keeping one's word".

Siddaramaiah's post on X, titled "Our commitment to Karnataka is not mere rhetoric. It holds profound significance for us," also stated, "Words lack power unless they enhance the world."

Sources indicate that Siddaramaiah's post serves as both a rebuttal to Shivakumar's message and a reaffirmation of his own stance.