The Congress party’s high command on Friday stepped in to end infighting in the Karnataka unit, asking both Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar to meet in a bid to resolve the crisis.

After the high command’s nudge, Siddaramaiah invited Shivakumar for a meeting over breakfast on Saturday. “The high command had called Shivakumar. They had called me as well. They told both of us to meet and talk. So I invited him for breakfast. When he comes there, we will both discuss everything," the Chief Minister said.

Siddaramaiah reiterated that there was no change in his stand and he will follow the orders of the Congress high command. “I am saying the same now, and I will say the same tomorrow as well. He (DKS) too has said many times that he will follow what the high command says.

I have also said many times that I will follow what the high command says. We will discuss all this there," he added.

The Chief Minister further said he would go to Delhi if the high command called him.

Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar met on Friday during an event. Supporters of both factions continue to demand the top post for their respective leaders, while the Congress high command remains tight-lipped on the issue.

Meanwhile, according to top Congress sources, the high command has asked Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar to solve issues amongst themselves.

Last week, Congress’s Karnataka in-charge Randeep Surjewala refuted reports of infighting and blamed the BJP for spreading a false narrative.

The chief minister’s post in Karnataka emerged as a bone of contention between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar after the Congress registered a landslide victory in the 2023 Assembly polls. However, the party eventually picked Siddaramaiah as the chief minister. There were reports at the time that Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar had agreed to a power-sharing arrangement, though the Congress has never officially announced the deal.

Since Siddaramaiah took over as chief minister, MLAs and leaders backing Shivakumar have often demanded a leadership change in the state. This time, however, Shivakumar’s loyalists are more vocal, as Siddaramaiah has completed 2.5 years in office, and they believe he should step aside in line with the alleged power-sharing arrangement.

Moreover, even if the Congress party decides to change the chief minister, Shivakumar appears to be the frontrunner. However, leaders such as Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara have also thrown their hats into the ring for the top post.

A Cabinet reshuffle is on the cards in Karnataka, but the Congress high command faces a dilemma over whether to head into the 2028 Assembly polls with veteran Siddaramaiah as chief minister or reward Shivakumar, who played a key role in the party’s 2023 success.

Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Veerappa Moily blamed the party high command for the crisis and called for discipline before the grand old party loses the state.

“The central leadership is responsible for that. They should know how to control it, but things are leading in different directions, which will spoil Congress in Karnataka," he said.

Source: News18