In a significant political signal aimed at quelling ongoing speculation, the Congress high command has decided that Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will remain in office for the full five-year term. Senior party sources confirmed on Friday that the leadership is not considering any change at the top, despite the widening rift between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar.

According to India TV sources, Siddaramaiah held a detailed telephonic conversation lasting nearly 10 minutes with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday night. The discussion reportedly centered on governance priorities and internal party discipline, reaffirming Siddaramaiah’s continuation as Chief Minister.

The move comes amid growing chatter within the state unit after Siddaramaiah publicly stated earlier this week that he would “definitely complete” his full tenure as CM. Party insiders also suggest that a comprehensive cabinet reshuffle may take place next month, likely after the winter session of the Karnataka Legislature. Sources further indicate that Siddaramaiah currently enjoys the backing of a larger section of Congress legislators compared to Shivakumar.

Meanwhile, several MLAs loyal to Deputy CM Shivakumar — including Minister N Chaluvarayaswamy — have camped in New Delhi, hoping to meet senior Congress leadership after the government crossed the halfway mark of its term. The Congress had reportedly considered a 2.5-year rotational power-sharing agreement between the two leaders following the party’s victory in the 2023 Assembly elections, though Siddaramaiah maintains that no such formula was formally agreed upon.

Adding to the developments, AICC General Secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala issued a stern warning to lawmakers and party leaders. In a message posted on X, Surjewala cautioned MLAs against making public statements or indulging in speculation regarding leadership changes. He also accused the BJP of deliberately spreading misinformation to destabilize the Congress government.

Surjewala wrote that both the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister had acknowledged that a “decisively defeated” BJP was attempting to run a smear campaign, assisted by certain sections of the media. He emphasized that the Congress leadership has documented the viewpoints of various functionaries but will not allow internal divisions to overshadow governance.