Kalaburagi, 30 April

AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday said there was no change in the Chief Minister in Karnataka "for now" and that the leadership issue in the state will be resolved soon.

The Congress chief's statement comes amid speculations within the party and political circles about a possible decision on leadership change and cabinet reshuffle after 4 May, once the results for assembly elections in four states and one union territory, along with bypolls to two assembly segments in Karnataka, are announced.

Supporters of Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar have been insisting on his elevation in line with a rumoured power-sharing agreement with CM Siddaramaiah when the party won the 2023 Assembly polls.

"You (media), he (Parameshwara) and people at the top say that it is better if I become (the chief minister). But, more than fate, as per my ideology and as per my service to the party so far, Sonia Gandhi takes decisions regarding me," he said in response to a question about Home Minister G Parameshwara's statement about Kharge becoming the CM.

Speaking to reporters here, he said, "But that question does not arise now. There is already a Chief Minister here. If Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and I, together, have to make any decision in the direction of a change, it will take some time. Let's wait and see."

Amid speculations about the leadership change in Karnataka, Parameshwara said on Wednesday that everyone in the ruling Congress party will welcome it if Kharge, a senior politician with a lot of experience, becomes the Chief Minister.

The leadership tussle within the ruling party has intensified amid speculation about a possible change of chief minister after the Congress government completed the halfway mark of its five-year term on 20 November 2025. The speculation has been fuelled by the reported "power-sharing" arrangement between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar at the time of government formation in 2023.

To a question on JD(S) leader and Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy's statement that about 40 Congress MLAs have booked tickets to Delhi next month, amid the leadership tussle in the Congress, Kharge said, "I don't know, ask him for details."