After late-night meeting with D K Shivakumar, Jarkiholi backs Siddaramaiah as ‘leadership change’ debate hits crescendo in Karnataka

This was along the lines of an argument put forth by a section of Congress leaders that there was no indication of “power-sharing” between the CM and his deputy when the former was picked as the leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) back in May 2023.

Often considered a contender for the coveted CM post himself, Jarkiholi said that he was among the many Congress leaders Shivakumar had met over the past few days. “There is no need to attribute special meaning to the meeting,” he said, pointing out that he had visited Shivakumar several times in the past and the Tuesday meeting was along the same lines.

“D K Shivakumar has claimed the CM post from day one. But the high command gave a chance to Siddaramaiah,” said Jarkiholi, working president of the Karnataka Congress and a Cabinet colleague of Shivakumar.

Responding to a question, Jarkiholi said, ”At the party level, there is no discussion at all regarding change. We will discuss it if and when it is raised. There is no discussion (about it) anywhere in the party.”

Later in the day, the minister hosted a few Congress MLAs for lunch at a hotel under the media glare.

‘Don’t want to discuss anything before media, says Shivakumar

Shivakumar, the Karnataka Congress chief, also downplayed the significance of the meeting with Jarkiholi, while ignoring multiple questions regarding his contention for the CM post and “good news from Delhi”.

“I don’t want to speak about anything in front of the media. We will discuss it within the four walls of the party,” he said.

Jarkiholi said the Congress’s aim is to retain power in Karnataka in 2028. “We had a strategy meeting for a road map to take all sections together. I always keep meeting. He is my colleague and senior leader of the party,” he said.

On a group of MLAs pushing for his appointment as CM amid the leadership debate, he said, “No one wants that (change in leadership). They want to bring the Congress back to power (in 2028).”

Amid this, a meeting between Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Karnataka IT/BT Minister Priyank Kharge also made headlines. Speaking to indianexpress.com, Kharge said the meeting was not related to the current dispute. On the leadership issue, he said that nobody knew what the agreement was.

“We have to see… As Shivakumar said, only a few people took a call on the leadership. Now too, those people have to come to a decision,” he said, referring to the high command.

Contributing to the debate was B K Hariprasad, senior Congress MLC and in charge of the Haryana Congress, who pointed out that the selection of the CM was a “joint decision” between the party high command and the CLP.

“If there was an agreement (on power-sharing), then it should have been informed during the CLP meeting,” he said, echoing the sentiments of Siddaramaiah’s economic adviser and MLA, Basavaraj Rayareddy.

“If there is such a dispute, the high command will decide on that. Till then, everyone has to wait,” Hariprasad added.

As comments on the issue flew thick and fast, MLA HC Balakrishna, who was among the group of MLAs who had travelled to Delhi, said that they had gone to Delhi “to enquire whether there was a power-sharing agreement. Our objective was to get clarification,” he said.

Meanwhile, a senior minister in the Siddaramaiah Cabinet admitted that there was uncertainty among the legislators as both the CM and Shivakumar were pointing to the high command.

“Previously, the CM had asserted that he would be at the helm for five years. Now, he says the high command has to decide. This is causing the confusion,” the minister said on the condition of anonymity, adding that there is “no smoke without fire”.

The speculation regarding power-sharing, which began soon after Siddaramaiah became CM in 2023, with Shivakumar emerging as an alternative power centre, has reached a crescendo in the last few days. Siddaramaiah completed two and a half years as CM in November, and Shivakumar supporters have been pushing for his elevation.