Published May 26, 2026 | 6:33 PM ⚊ Updated May 26, 2026 | 6:33 PM
Siddaramaiah greets Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala and AICC general secretary KC Venugopal.
Synopsis: AICC general secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal on Tuesday dismissed speculation of a leadership change in Karnataka, saying there was “no reality at all” to suggestions that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah would step down after a high-profile meeting between state leaders and the Congress high command. Venugopal maintained that the meeting discussed the upcoming Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council elections.
AICC general secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal on Tuesday, 26 May, dismissed speculation of a possible leadership change in the Karnataka government, saying there was “no reality at all” to suggestions that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah would step down.
The statement followed a high-profile meeting of state Congress leaders with the party high command in New Delhi. The meeting was attended by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, AICC Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala and senior Congress leaders. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi also participated in the discussions.
Addressing mediapersons after the meeting, Surjewala urged the assembled reporters to “for heaven’s sake, now stop your speculation.”
Similarly, KC Venugopal maintained that the agenda of the meeting concerned the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections.
“Today, the entire discussion was concentrated only on the coming Rajya Sabha elections and Karnataka Legislative Council elections. Whatever speculation you people are doing, that is only speculation, no reality at all,” Venugopal said.
“The candidates for the Rajya Sabha and Council seats from Karnataka will be announced along with seats from other states like Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Jharkhand. That’s all. This is what we have decided today. Nothing else was discussed today.”
Despite Congress’ claims that the discussions revolved around Rajya Sabha and MLC polls, a host of ministers and cabinet aspirants from Karnataka making a beeline to Delhi added to speculations.
Also Read: Karnataka Congress govt marks three years with record Bhoo Guarantee deed drive
The meeting became the source of fresh speculation about the long-standing rumours of a possible leadership change in Karnataka. Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar discussed with AICC leadership at length for hours.
It followed Siddaramaiah completing three years in office on 20 May. But his administration, by the admission of his own ministers and MLAs, has been marred by lethargy, disinterest, allegations of corruption and indecision.
Thanks largely to Siddaramaiah’s popularity, the government continues to hang by the thread of his personal appeal and AHINDA support, the Kannada acronym for minorities, backward classes and Dalits.
The growing sentiment within both the Karnataka Cabinet and the Congress Legislative Party is that Siddaramaiah has become unresponsive and indecisive, and that his administration has slipped into lethargy.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
