Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has been summoned to New Delhi for a key meet with the Congress high command on Tuesday, May 26, amid rumours surrounding leadership tussle in the state.
Siddaramaiah is all set to leave Bengaluru for Delhi at 7 p.m. on Monday, May 25.
As of now, Siddaramaiah has maintained that he was completely unaware about the agendas set to be discussed during the meeting with the party’s high command in the national capital.
“I have been invited to Delhi. There is a meeting tomorrow (May 26). I do not know the subject of the meeting. They have called the meeting for 11 a.m. AICC General Secretary and MP K.C. Venugopal called me, informed me about the meeting, and invited me to attend,” IANS quoted the Karnataka Chief Minister as saying.
On being asked about the ongoing speculations surrounding the possible leadership change in Karnataka, Siddaramaiah asserted that such talks have always (been) there”.
On the other hand, Deputy Chief Minister and Karnataka Congress President DK Shivakumar stated that he will visit the national capital when summoned by the party high command.
Shivakumar further assured his supporters that the people will witness the Congress-led government retaining power in the state in the 2028 Assembly elections.
“You will see, Shivakumar and the Congress government coming back to power,” he said.
Further, Shivakumar recalled that during the 2023 polls, he had challenged those speculating Congress’ defeat in the Assembly polls. “At a time when Union Home Minister Amit Shah was talking about the BJP’s victory, I challenged that Congress would win 136 seats and we came to power,” he added.
Insiders told IANS that Siddaramaiah is first expected to meet AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, in the presence of KC Venugopal. Post that, they are expected to meet Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi.
There are possibilities that they will discuss the ongoing leadership tussle in the state, apart from other key topics like cabinet expansion, induction of new ministers as well as the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls.