New Delhi: The contest over the Karnataka chief minister’s post escalated on Sunday as more than half a dozen Congress MLAs reached Delhi, adding to a steady flow of legislators arriving in the capital throughout the week.
According to party sources, lawmakers supporting Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar have been meeting senior Congress leaders in Delhi, urging them to replace Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. This marks the third instance in the past week of MLAs from the Shivakumar faction travelling to the national capital.
Several MLAs unhappy with Siddaramaiah’s leadership are now staying in Delhi hotels while they await direction from the party high command. They believe the situation within the state unit has deteriorated and requires immediate attention.
Sources say the discontent stems from concerns over budget allocations, ticket distribution, and power-sharing arrangements. Meanwhile, Siddaramaiah and his close associates have avoided commenting publicly on the visits or the growing calls for a leadership change. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, who is currently in Bengaluru holding discussions with state leaders, has maintained that no decision regarding the chief minister’s position will be taken hurriedly.
