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A group of Karnataka Congress MLAs loyal to Shivakumar met party chief Kharge in New Delhi on Thursday, raising speculation of a potential leadership shake-up in the state
Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar (Photo: PTI)
After a group of Congress MLAs aligned with Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar met party president Mallikarjun Kharge in New Delhi, reportedly to push for a leadership reshuffle in the state, he denied that any such demand had been made.
A group of Karnataka Congress MLAs loyal to Shivakumar met party chief Kharge in New Delhi on Thursday, a late-night meeting that intensified speculation of a potential leadership shake-up in the state.
Rejecting claims that his supporters were pressuring the high command to make him the next chief minister under a “power-sharing” formula as the Siddaramaiah government approaches the 2.5-year mark, Shivakumar said, “Making a group is not in my blood. All 140 MLAs are my MLAs. CM decided that he will reshuffle the government, the cabinet. So, all of them are interested in becoming ministers.”
“It is natural that they will go and meet the leaders in Delhi. Apart from that, what can I say? They have every right. I have not taken anyone. Some of them went and met Kharge sahab. They met the CM also. No one has called them; they are voluntarily going. They wanted to show their presence, that they are in the forefront, can work and they want responsibility.”
#WATCH | Bengaluru: On speculations around the CM post in the state, Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar says, “…Making a group is not in my blood. All 140 MLAs are my MLAs. CM decided that he will reshuffle the Govt, the cabinet. So, all of them are interested in becoming… pic.twitter.com/bsSKhdhVXI— ANI (@ANI) November 21, 2025
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah reiterated that he will remain in office and will “present budgets myself,” questioning why the media continues to speculate about a change in leadership.
He reminded that the Congress high command has not indicated any move to replace him and reiterated that decisions on leadership or a cabinet reshuffle rest solely with the party leadership.
“The high command does all the cabinet reshuffle. Did he say anything? Neither I nor anyone should hear what the high command said. DK Shivakumar, I and everyone has to listen to what the high command says… I will present the next budget myself, I will continue all the way, I will meet Mallikarjun Kharge tomorrow,” Siddaramaiah said.
More than 10 legislators, including a minister, from the Shivakumar camp travelled to the national capital on Thursday, with several more expected to arrive on Friday.
The group is seeking meetings with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and General Secretary KC Venugopal to press for what they claim was an internal power-sharing formula agreed upon in 2023.
Kharge, however, is scheduled to return to Bengaluru today for an official event and is expected to stay overnight in the city.
Amid these rapid developments, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah abruptly cancelled his two-day tour of Mysuru and Chamarajanagar planned for Friday and Saturday and is heading back to Bengaluru.
Those who reached Delhi on Thursday include Minister N Chaluvarayaswamy and MLAs Iqbal Hussain, HC Balakrishna and SR Srinivas.
Earlier on Tuesday, MLAs Ravi Ganiga, Gubbi Vasu, Dinesh Gooligowda and others had already arrived to raise the issue with the party leadership.
On Friday, MLAs Anekal Shivanna, Nelamangala Srinivas, Kunigal Ranganath, Shivaganga Basavaraju and Balakrishna are also expected to reach Delhi, sources said.
The renewed push by Shivakumar’s supporters comes a day after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah completed two and a half years in office.
Karnataka, India, India
November 21, 2025, 16:17 IST
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