The minister dispelled speculations that his father and AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge would take over the chief ministership from Siddaramaiah.
Published Nov 27, 2025 | 12:06 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 27, 2025 | 12:06 PM
Priyank Kharge (X)
Synopsis: Speaking to reporters after a “work-related” meeting with Rahul Gandhi, IT/BT Minister Priyank Kharge said the Congress high command would decide the chief minister at the appropriate time.
Karnataka IT and BT Minister Priyank Kharge has said that the Congress was not confused over the chief ministership in the state.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, 26 November, the minister dispelled speculations that his father and AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge would take over the chief ministership from the incumbent, Siddaramaiah.
Priyank’s statement came amidst speculations of a power struggle between Siddaramaiah and his deputy, DK Shivakumar. Both leaders had said that there would not be a change in power, but Siddaramaiah said the high command must clarify the issue.
The IT minister said the party high command would decide on the chief minister. “When the time comes, they (the high command) will do it. The confusion is in the BJP, and media. It’s not there in Congress,” Priyank said a day after meeting the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, in Delhi.
Priyank further stated that the Congress party did not depend on just one person for its existence.
“The party does not exist because of any one person. Wasn’t there Congress before Siddaramaiah? Siddaramaiah left an impression on all the communities in the state. Was it not the Congress party that made Siddaramaiah the CM? Mallikarjun Kharge, Siddaramaiah, DK Shivakumar, Dr Parameshwara, Satish Jarkiholi… all were raised by the workers,” he said.
To a specific query on reports on Mallikarjun Kharge being in race for the chief minister’s post, he dismissed the speculations.
“Whenever elections happen here (in Karnataka), he’s in the CM race. Whenever Parliamentary elections happen, he’s in the PM race. Such discussions are irrelevant now,” he said.
“Kharge himself has spoken on this matter earlier. There is no need to discuss and drag this subject on for long,” Priyank added.
The minister said his meeting with Gandhi was work related.
He claimed that the meeting was to show Gandhi KEO (Knowledge-driven, Economical, Open-source), the AI-ready personal computer, unveiled during the recent Bengaluru Tech Summit (BTS).
“Rahul Gandhi was invited for the BTS, but he couldn’t make it. I had sought a meeting to show him our AI personal computer,” Priyank said.
(Edited by Majnu Babu)
