Surjewala called out 'needless statements' of some Congress leaders and MLAs, which fuelled the speculation of a leadership change.
Published Nov 21, 2025 | 5:27 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 21, 2025 | 5:27 PM
Surjewala shuts down leadership change buzz: “The Answer Is No” (X)
Synopsis: Sources said that the Congress high command, especially after the party’s poor show in the Bihar election, is reluctant to fiddle with the Karnataka government. Subtle hints have been shared with both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar against creating a situation that would destabilise the government.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar once again played down questions of leadership change in the state.
Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar ruled out a leadership change, while the AICC general secretary in charge of Karnataka, Randeep Singh Surjewala, blamed the BJP and a section of Congress leaders for fuelling the speculation.
The denial came amid renewed buzz over a possible leadership change in Karnataka following a section of party MLAs, reportedly loyal to Shivakumar, camping in Delhi.
“Has the high command spoken anything about leadership change?” Siddaramaiah asked, responding to a media query on MLAs loyal to Shivakumar planning to meet senior Congress leaders, and setting off speculations about a change in leadership.
Siddaramaiah reiterated that the high command would make a final call, and everyone, including him, Shivakumar, and other ministers, must adhere to that decision.
To a question whether he would present the next two state budgets, Siddaramaiah retorted, “Why are you asking this? Yes, I will continue. I will present the budgets in future also.”
Meanwhile, Shivakumar, on Thursday, said he was unaware of MLAs’ Delhi trip since he was unwell. However, on Friday, Shivakumar said that all 140 members were eligible to become ministers and the chief minister.
“They can become everything. Chief Minister (Siddaramaiah) is there, and he said that he will complete five years. I wish him all the best. We will all work with him,” he said.
Surjewala, after a meeting with Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, said the “faction-ridden” BJP and a section of the media were maligning Karnataka and its Congress government.
He further called out “needless statements” of some Congress leaders and MLAs, which fuelled the speculation of an imminent leadership change.
His statement came even as the Congress government completed half of its five-year term. While speculations were rife about a ‘November revolution’ and a change of guard, both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar have publicly dismissed the possibility.
However, several Congress legislators from the state — belonging to the Shivakumar camp — rushed to Delhi on Thursday, 20 November, seeking meetings with senior leadership to pitch Shivakumar as the chief minister.
Referring to the BJP, Surjewala said in a post on X, “The sole idea is to undermine the stellar achievements and 5 Congress Govt Guarantees, which have become an outstanding model of inclusive development and distributive justice.”
Calling out the “needless statements” of some Congress leaders and MLAs, he said, “INC has sternly warned them against making any public statements on the issue of leadership or falling for the agenda being propagated by the vested interests.”
He further said that the leadership had taken note of the opinion of various party functionaries.
Had a discussion with Karnataka CM and Deputy CM and they agreed that a decisively defeated and faction ridden Karnataka BJP, alongwith a section of the media, are designedly running a maligning campaign against Karnataka and its Congress Government.
The sole idea is to…
— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) November 21, 2025
Meanwhile, multiple sources that spoke to South First claimed that it could be a long wait for Shivakumar if he was harbouring dreams of becoming the chief minister.
Sources said that the Congress high command, especially after the party’s poor show in the Bihar election, was reluctant to fiddle with the Karnataka government. Subtle hints have been shared with both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar against creating a situation that would destabilise the government.
Additionally, sources said, with the possibility of Shivakumar stepping down from the post of President of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) soon, there were demands for plum posts for his supporters.
On 19 November, Shivakumar admitted that he couldn’t be the Karnataka Congress president forever, but would continue to be in the party’s “front line”.
“Whether I am around or not is immaterial. But I want to set up 100 new party offices under my tenure,” Shivakumar said, while speaking at a Congress event to mark former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s birth anniversary.
When some party workers objected, Shivakumar said, “I can’t be around permanently. It has already been 5.5 years. It will be six years in March. Opportunity should be given to others.”
Meanwhile, the source also added that a Cabinet reshuffle was possible, though its timing remained uncertain with the winter session of the Karnataka legislature scheduled to begin on 8 December in Belagavi, and the Parliament session set for 1 to 19 December.
Another source told South First that both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar were aware that the next election would be a tough fight, and that the much-touted ‘guarantees’ had not generated the expected level of goodwill.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
