Kharge Assurance Fuels DKS Push for CM Post

• MLA claims Kharge sought time after appeal to make DKS Chief Minister
• Siddaramaiah camp cites full 5-year term commitment
• More Congress MLAs expected in Delhi amid “November revolution” buzz
• Leadership tussle resurfaces despite earlier truce

GG News Bureau
Bengaluru, 21st Nov: The internal power struggle in Karnataka’s ruling Congress escalated on Friday, with Ramanagara MLA Iqbal Hussain claiming Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge has assured DK Shivakumar’s supporters that “everything will be fine” regarding their demand to replace Siddaramaiah as Chief Minister.

Hussain, who backs Shivakumar, told NDTV that Kharge heard lawmakers’ views and has sought a week’s time to consult the party’s top leadership. “DK Shivakumar has worked hard to bring Congress to power. He deserves to be the Chief Minister… we are hopeful we will get justice,” he said.

Kharge and the Congress have not commented on the claims.

While praising Siddaramaiah as an “honest and sincere leader”, Hussain implied the Chief Minister should honour expectations within the party. The remarks echo those from Shivakumar’s brother DK Suresh, who recently said Siddaramaiah was not someone who would “go back on his word”.

The renewed push comes as November 20 marked halfway through Siddaramaiah’s five-year term, fuelling talk of a power-sharing “agreement” within the party. Siddaramaiah, however, has repeatedly denied any deal and insisted he will complete his term. “My power hasn’t gone… it has only gotten stronger,” he said this week.

On Thursday, Hussain and Agriculture Minister N Chaluvarayaswamy reached Delhi to lobby the leadership, with more MLAs expected today. Meanwhile, Siddaramaiah loyalists, including Home Minister G Parameshwara and PWD Minister Satish Jarikholi, cite the party’s written commitment confirming Siddaramaiah as Chief Minister for the full term.

“The Congress has discipline and we must obey the high command,” Hussain responded diplomatically when asked about the letter — but reiterated his camp’s hope for a leadership transition.

The Congress had previously managed to pause the battle in June after Randeep Surjewala’s intervention. But Shivakumar supporters have kept the pressure on, even as the Deputy Chief Minister publicly urged calm. Hussain earlier asserted that 100 MLAs would support Shivakumar for the top post.

Shivakumar’s recent comments about stepping down as Karnataka Congress chief have raised fresh speculation, as Siddaramaiah’s camp has long argued both roles cannot be held by one leader.

The leadership rift in Karnataka — one of the only three states where Congress governs on its own — has once again come to the fore, reviving talk of a possible “November revolution” in the southern state.