Published Feb 07, 2026 | 1:44 PM ⚊ Updated Feb 07, 2026 | 1:44 PM
Yathindra Siddaramaiah. Credit: x.com/Dr_Yathindra_S
Synopsis: Yathindra Siddaramaiah has asserted that the Congress high command has signaled no leadership change in Karnataka, insisting his father will remain CM for the full term. Deputy CM DK Shivakumar responded sarcastically, calling Yathindra the “high command.” Despite ongoing speculation and lobbying, both leaders have sought to project unity, even meeting over breakfast in the past to quell tensions.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s son and MLC Yathindra on Friday, 6 February, claimed that the Congress command has given a clear signal that there won’t be any leadership change in the state, and his father will be the chief minister till his complete term.
“As per me, the high command might not have said openly, but have given a clear signal that there will not be any leadership change. So I believe that Siddaramaiah will be the CM for five years,” Yathindra said while speaking to reporters.
Calling it a “settled issue”, Yathindra stated that there were other issues to focus on in the state including the upcoming budget.
Reacting sarcastically to Yathindra’s comments, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said, “Yathindra is our high command. I will accept whatever he says with respect. When he has made statement as if he is the high command, let us accept him as the high command.”
The rumour mills have been buzzing for quite some time now. Both the CM and his Deputy have both presented their cases before the Congress high command, wherein Siddaramaiah has vowed to complete his full term, and DK Shivakumar urging for a leadership change.
Few months back, responding to questions on leadership change, Siddaramaiah reiterated that he DK Shivakumar would abide by the decision of the high command.
“We will abide by the decision of the high command. If they decide I should continue as chief minister, I will continue. Ultimately, whatever the high command decides, I should accept it and Shivakumar should also accept it,” Siddaramaiah told reporters in Chikkaballapura.
Siddaramaiah statements came even as several other MLAs from Shivakumar’s camp have reportedly flown to Delhi again, in a bid to speak with the senior party leaders. Several party leaders have already been camping in Delhi and met with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge last week, seeking to pitch Shivakumar as the next CM.
Both the leaders have met twice over breakfast to quell the rising tensions. After the second round of breakfast meeting with Shivakumar on 2 December, Siddaramaiah said DKS would become CM “when the high command wills”.
The duo, who sought to send out another message of unity amid buzz around leadership change in the state, held a breakfast meeting at Shivakumar’s residence upon his invitation, just days after they broke bread.
The Congress leaders reiterated that they were together and would continue to lead the government in a united manner.
“Deputy Chief Minister and I are like brothers, we are in the same party and believe in the same ideology. We will work together in the 2028 elections as well and bring the party to power,” Siddaramaiah told reporters. Upon being asked when Shivakumar would become the chief minister, Siddaramaiah said, “When the High Command wills.”
With the Congress government having completed half of its five-year term on 20 November, speculation were rife about a ‘November revolution’ and a change of guard, despite several senior party leaders ruling out any such move.
After his meeting with party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Siddaramaiah termed the speculation a media creation, a statement reiterated by several Congress leaders.
(With inputs from Anisha Reddy)
