New Delhi, May 25 (H.S.): Amid growing speculation over a possible leadership change in the Congress government in Karnataka, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah arrived in Delhi on Monday following a summons from the party leadership. The party leadership has called him for a meeting on Tuesday, May 26, further intensifying speculation regarding a possible change in leadership in the state.

Speaking to journalists upon his arrival in Delhi, Siddaramaiah said that K. C. Venugopal had called him for a meeting scheduled for 11 a.m. on May 26. He stated that he was unaware of the agenda of the meeting and remarked that such speculation continues to persist.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Congress leader Ramesh Babu said that the meeting was part of routine organisational work. He noted that the notification for the Rajya Sabha elections had already been issued and the party needed to finalise three candidates. In addition, elections to the Legislative Council are expected to be held in the coming days, in which seven members are to be elected. He added that the Karnataka Legislative Assembly session also needs to be convened. According to him, the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister have been called to Delhi to discuss these issues.

Notably, the meeting is being viewed as significant as the Congress government in Karnataka completes three years in office. For the past one-and-a-half years, supporters of Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar have repeatedly claimed that a leadership change would take place soon and that he would be made the Chief Minister. However, no such development has taken place so far, and uncertainty over the issue continues within the party.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar