Will continue as CM, asserts Siddaramaiah, ‘all the best’, says DKS

Amid the intense power struggle involving his deputy and state Congress chief D K Shivakumar, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday asserted that he would continue in office and also present state budgets in the future, prompting an “all the best” wish from the former.
The veteran leader’s assertion came amidst the intense power struggle in the ruling Congress, with the Shivakumar camp mounting pressure on the party high command for a leadership change.
With the squabbling in Congress coming out in open, AICC General Secretary in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala issued a stern warning to party MLAs and leaders against making any public statements on the issue of leadership.
At least 15 MLAs and about a dozen MLCs have camped in New Delhi to push the party leadership to make Shivakumar the next CM, Congress sources said.
According to reports, the demand is based on a purported power-sharing agreement reached in 2023, under which Siddaramaiah was to serve as the CM for two and a half years (till November 2025) before making way for Shivakumar.
Responding to a query on some MLAs and MLCs camping in Delhi, the CM said the Congress high command has to decide on the leadership change, cabinet reshuffle or government restructuring.“Has High Command spoken on it? We can’t help it. Earlier also some people were discussing it, and now they might have gone (to Delhi). Finally, Shivakumar and I have to listen to whatever the high command says,” he added.