‘200 per cent...’: Congress MLA says Shivakumar will take over as Karnataka CM ‘soon’

Bengaluru, Karnataka: As speculation intensifies over a leadership change in Karnataka, a section of Congress MLAs backing Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar returned from New Delhi on Tuesday, asserting that his elevation as Chief Minister is imminent, but stressing that the party high command will take the final decision.

Ramanagara MLA Iqbal Hussain sounded confident about the outcome.

“I always stand by that statement… 200 per cent, he will become the CM soon. The high command will decide. As our leader (Shivakumar) said, the transfer of power is a secret deal among five to six party leaders, and those five to six people will decide,” he said.

A group of around six MLAs had travelled to Delhi on Sunday night to meet senior party leaders, with more expected to follow. Their visit comes amid renewed talk of a possible change in leadership as the Congress government completed half its term on November 20, a milestone linked to an alleged power-sharing pact between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar in 2023.

Some of the MLAs said they urged the party leadership to end the ongoing confusion over the CM issue.

Magadi MLA H C Balakrishna said, “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.”

Another MLA, K M Uday from Maddur, said legislators also requested opportunities for “fresh faces and youngsters” during the upcoming cabinet reshuffle. He added that the high command had indicated this would be considered. On the demand for Shivakumar’s elevation, he reiterated that the leadership would take a call and everyone would abide by it.

Senior MLAs reportedly pushed for an early decision to end the uncertainty. A batch of around 10 legislators had met AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge last week.

Asked about reports that MLAs supporting him had gone to Delhi to lobby for his elevation, Shivakumar distanced himself from the move.

“I have not called or spoken to any of them. I am not asking why they went. I don't need to,” he said, suggesting they may have sought ministerial berths instead.