Congress spokesperson KC Venugopal said a recent meeting in Delhi focused solely on Rajya Sabha and council elections, rejecting rumors of a leadership change in Karnataka [1].
The denial comes amid persistent speculation regarding the stability of the state's top executive office. If the party were to replace the chief minister, it could signal internal instability or a shift in strategic direction ahead of upcoming electoral contests.
The meeting in Delhi involved Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar [2]. According to reports, the session lasted six hours [3]. The extended duration of the talks fueled public and political theories that the party was negotiating a transition of power within the state government.
Venugopal addressed these rumors to clarify the agenda of the gathering. "Only Rajya Sabha polls were discussed, nothing else," Venugopal said [1]. He said that the discussions were centered on planning for the upcoming upper house polls and council elections [2].
The party is now calling for an end to the narrative that a leadership shuffle is imminent. "We request people to stop speculation on any change in Karnataka's chief ministerial position," Venugopal said [1].
By framing the meeting as a strategic electoral session, Congress aims to project unity between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar. The party's leadership maintains that the focus remains on legislative success, and party coordination, rather than internal power struggles [2].
“"Only Rajya Sabha polls were discussed, nothing else."”
This denial is an attempt to maintain public perception of stability within the Karnataka government. By attributing the lengthy meeting to Rajya Sabha strategy, the Congress party is trying to neutralize internal rivalry narratives that often emerge between the chief minister and deputy chief minister, ensuring the party does not appear fractured before the elections.
