Siddaramaiah Says Rahul Gandhi Will Decide on Karnataka Leadership Issue

Mysuru, Dec 2025: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday said that the responsibility of resolving the leadership debate in the state lies with Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi. Amid growing speculation over a possible change in leadership within the Congress government, Siddaramaiah stated that the party remains committed to whatever decision Rahul Gandhi takes.

Speaking to the media in his hometown Mysuru, Siddaramaiah expressed unhappiness over the ongoing public discussion on the issue. “Why is there a need to ask so many questions? I have already spoken about this in the Legislative Assembly. There is no need to discuss it again,” he said, referring to his recent statement on the floor of the House where he declared that he would complete his full term as Chief Minister.

The speculation around leadership gained momentum after Congress MLA and former minister K.N. Rajanna met Deputy Chief Minister and Karnataka Congress President D.K. Shivakumar last week in Bengaluru. Responding to queries on the meeting, Siddaramaiah dismissed concerns, stating, “D.K. Shivakumar is the party president. What is wrong with meeting the party president?”

Meanwhile, the political opposition seized the moment to criticise the Congress government. Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly, R. Ashoka, accused the Congress leadership of lacking clarity. He pointed out that Siddaramaiah has repeatedly asserted he will continue as Chief Minister as long as the high command wishes, while Shivakumar, on the other hand, claims there is already an agreement in place for leadership change.

Earlier, Siddaramaiah’s son, Congress MLC Dr. Yathindra Siddaramaiah, added fuel to the debate by saying that the party high command had rejected Shivakumar’s request and confirmed that Siddaramaiah would serve a full term. Siddaramaiah later echoed this confidence, reiterating in the Assembly that he would remain in the post for the entire duration.

Further political activity is expected this week, as Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar prepares to travel to Delhi, where discussions with senior party leaders are likely to take place. At the same time, Siddaramaiah is also expected to receive an invitation to attend the Congress Working Committee meeting scheduled for Saturday.

The BJP has mocked the Congress over the internal developments, alleging that the party’s leadership, including Rahul Gandhi, lacks the ability to address the situation effectively.

With both sides making sharp remarks and Congress leaders gearing up for key meetings, Karnataka’s political atmosphere remains tense — and clarity on the leadership issue now rests with the party’s central command.