BENGALURU: Amid intense speculation and swift political developments over change in leadership and a cabinet reshuffle, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah met AICC President Mallikarjuna Kharge at the latter’s residence here late on Saturday evening.
The duo held one-on-one talks and Kharge is likely to inform LOP in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi of the outcome, to take a final call. Rahul, who is abroad, will be returning to Delhi after November 28, according to sources. Any decision on change in leadership or cabinet reshuffle is unlikely anytime soon, according to sources.
Siddaramaiah, who has been asserting at public meetings that he will be CM for five years and will present the next budget, looked visibly mellowed after meeting Kharge.
DKS likely to meet Kharge today
“Ultimately, the high command will take a call. Whether it’s the legislators, ministers, me or DK Shivakumar, we should adhere to it,” Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said, appearing unfazed by Deputy Chief Minister and KPCC president DK Shivakumar’s camp meeting the high command and insisting on a change in leadership.
“Whenever the high command calls, I will go to Delhi,” he responded to a query. However, he dismissed questions on a change in leadership and cabinet reshuffle featuring during his discussion with Kharge, which lasted over one-and-half hours. “It was a courtesy call during which we discussed ways to strengthen the party for the forthcoming polls to ZP/TP and corporations,” he maintained.
According to sources, the CM and Kharge may have discussed DCM Shivakumar resorting to a show of strength by reaching out to MLAs and encouraging them to meet the high command in Delhi to exert pressure for change in leadership.
The Chief Minister has reportedly got information that the DCM is collecting signatures of MLAs in his favour, and may have asked Kharge to advise Shivakumar that such a move would create a rift within the party and government.
“I need not gather information from MLAs about their moves as I have intelligence,” he replied to a query.
Kharge might have suggested to the CM to instruct his own camp — ministers led by Satish Jarkiholi — not to hold separate dinner parleys as it would send a wrong message and damage the government and party.
Earlier in the day, the MLAs who showed up with the DK Shivakumar camp, including CP Yogeshwar, Yasir Khan Pathan and others, had also met Siddaramaiah. According to sources, some MLAs were confused as to which camp they should identify with as the party high command had not cleared the air.
Maenwhile, Shivakumar is likely to meet Kharge on Sunday, according to an informed source.