The AICC president's comments come a day after a meeting with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, which the latter had described as a "courtesy call".
Published Nov 23, 2025 | 8:42 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 23, 2025 | 8:42 PM
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge.
Synopsis: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has said that any decision on a change of leadership in Karnataka will be taken only by the party high command, amid continued speculation over Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar replacing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. With the Congress government having completed half of its five-year term on 20 November, speculation has been rife about a ‘November revolution’ and a change of guard.
All India Congress Committee (AICC) President Mallikarjun Kharge has said the party high command will decide on a possible change in leadership in Karnataka, as speculation about Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar replacing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah refuses to die down.
“I have nothing to say about the developments that have happened. So you [media] standing here is a waste of your time and I too feel bad. Whatever it is, the high command will do it. There is no need for you to worry more about it,” Kharge said, speaking to reporters outside his residence on the morning of Sunday, 23 November.
His comments come a day after a meeting with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, which the latter had described as a “courtesy call”.
With the Congress government having completed half of its five-year term on 20 November, speculation has been rife about a ‘November revolution’ and a change of guard, despite several senior party leaders ruling out any such move.
After his meeting with Kharge, Siddaramaiah termed the speculation a media creation, a statement reiterated by several Congress leaders.
“We discussed the party organisation and upcoming local body elections, including the Bengaluru municipal polls,” he said, detailing the nature of his visit.
Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar have continued to reaffirm that the decision about a possible leadership change in the state will be taken only by the high command.
Siddaramaiah has also reiterated several times that he will remain the Chief Minister for the rest of his term, with Shivakumar publicly backing him as well.
Nevertheless, the media buzz intensified after several party MLAs, reportedly loyal to Shivakumar, camped in Delhi last week.
“Has the high command spoken anything about leadership change?” asked Siddaramaiah, in response to queries on such visits.
Shivakumar, meanwhile, has been more cryptic in his responses and said that all one hundred and forty members are eligible to become ministers and Chief Minister.
“They can become everything. Now no question is there. Chief Minister [Siddaramaiah] is there, he said that he will complete five years. I wish him all the best. We will all work with him,” he said, while speaking to reporters.
AICC General Secretary in charge of Karnataka, Randeep Singh Surjewala, was also forced to respond to the speculation mill on Friday. He blamed the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and a section of Congress leaders for fuelling the speculation.
He said he had a discussion with the Karnataka Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister, who agreed that a “decisively ridden Karnataka BJP, along with a section of the media, are designedly running a maligning campaign against Karnataka and its Congress Government.”
He further alleged that the sole idea is to undermine the “stellar achievements and five Congress government ‘guarantees’, which have become an outstanding model of inclusive development and distributive justice.”
Surjewala also said the party had warned its leaders and MLAs against making “needless statements” that add to the speculation.
“INC has sternly warned them from making any public statements on the issue of leadership or falling for the agenda being propagated by the vested interests,” he wrote in a post on X.
But notably, he said the leadership had taken note of the opinion of various party functionaries.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
