Delhi: Political uncertainty in Karnataka deepened after Ramanagara MLA Iqbal Hussain reaffirmed his unwavering belief that Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar will “200 per cent” take over as the next Chief Minister. Hussain, who recently travelled to New Delhi with a group of Congress MLAs to meet senior leaders, said the legislators had conveyed their expectations but left the final decision to the party high command.
Hussain reiterated Shivakumar’s earlier claim that the leadership issue remains confined to a select group within the party. “As our leader said, the transfer of power is a secret deal among five to six party leaders, and those five to six people will decide,” he remarked, adding to the political buzz around a possible leadership transition.
The comments come at a time when speculation continues to grow about an internal power-sharing understanding allegedly reached between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar in 2023. Though the Congress leadership has repeatedly denied the existence of any such agreement, the issue resurfaced after the government completed half of its five-year tenure on November 20.
Several MLAs who met senior leaders in Delhi reportedly urged them to end the confusion surrounding the chief ministerial position. While some demanded clarity on the leadership question, others said they pressed for greater representation for young and first-time legislators in the anticipated cabinet reshuffle.
Magadi MLA H.C. Balakrishna echoed the call for quick intervention from the central leadership. He said the matter must be settled soon to prevent further uncertainty within the party. “We went to discuss with the high command to clear the confusion because a final decision is needed. Who becomes CM is not important; the current situation is detrimental to the Congress party. The high command should intervene and put an end to this,” he said, refusing to confirm whether Shivakumar’s elevation had been formally discussed.
Maddur MLA K.M. Uday confirmed that legislators also sought opportunities for “fresh faces and youngsters” in the upcoming cabinet expansion and added that the high command had responded positively. On the question of Shivakumar taking over as Chief Minister, he said the decision ultimately rests with the party leadership, and all MLAs will abide by it.
Meanwhile, nearly 10 MLAs had already met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge last week, fuelling further speculation within the party. With rumours growing louder, several senior MLAs are now appealing for a swift resolution to maintain party cohesion.
Reacting to reports that his supporters had travelled to Delhi seeking his elevation, Shivakumar distanced himself from the developments. He said he was unaware of the meetings and suggested the MLAs could be seeking ministerial positions instead. “I have not called or spoken to any of them. I am not asking why they went. I don’t need to,” he said.
