Siddaramaiah's Son Dismisses Karnataka CM Change Rumors: "No War, No Conflict"

Yathindra has clarified that the Congress high command has not issued any directives yet.

Bengaluru:

Yathindra Siddaramaiah, son of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Congress MLC, has minimized the leadership competition between his father and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who also serves as State Congress President. He emphasized that there is no discussion about changing the Chief Minister position.

This statement holds particular significance as AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge has indicated that both CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM Shivakumar will be summoned to Delhi to resolve matters between them.

When speaking to reporters in Mandya regarding ongoing speculation about a potential change in Karnataka's chief ministership, Yathindra rejected reports of internal discord, stating that leadership change discussions were limited to media circles rather than within the party itself.

"There is 'no war, no conflict'. Only the media is discussing these things. We in the party have no confusion," he affirmed.

Yathindra emphasized that the Congress high command has not issued any directives regarding leadership changes.

"They call and speak to us. Everyone is committed to the high command's decision. They will sit and talk to both leaders when necessary. Until then, there should be no confusion," he stated.

Addressing statements from certain individuals suggesting that Deputy CM DK Shivakumar should be appointed Chief Minister, Yathindra acknowledged that people can express their opinions freely but reiterated that only the high command possesses the authority to make such decisions.

"No one outside the party has the right to comment on this. Our high command alone should decide who will be the chief minister," Yathindra declared.

Regarding the reported meeting in Delhi involving DK Shivakumar and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Yathindra admitted having no information. "I don't know. I haven't spoken to him. I don't know what was discussed."

He also downplayed concerns about multiple contenders for the top position. "There are always many people aspiring for the chief minister's position in any party. It happened when the BJP was in power, too. It's not a big deal."

He confirmed that both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar remain firmly committed to following the high command's decisions. "The confusion will be resolved soon. The high command will pull the curtain on this."

Yathindra further noted that discussions about leadership changes after just two years of governance are unnecessary. He urged media outlets not to create narratives about MLAs supporting different factions within the party. "This is an internal matter, and the media should not dictate who belongs to whose side," he concluded.