Karnataka chief minister change buzz continues as Congress high command avoids clear signal | Bengaluru News

Bengaluru: Uncertainties over a possible change of chief minister continue to dominate the political discourse, placing sustained pressure on the Congress high command to provide clarity. While AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge has described the matter as a local issue, chief minister Siddaramaiah later shifted the onus to senior leader Rahul Gandhi, keeping speculation over the post alive.Deputy chief minister and state Congress president DK Shivakumar has once again downplayed it, stating he is content to continue as a loyal party worker. Yet the absence of a categorical statement from the central leadership has kept the buzz alive, even as the state govt completed two and a half years in office on Nov 20. Ministers, legislators, and party workers continue to closely analyse every public remark for signals.Senior Congress functionaries admit the issue is beginning to overshadow governance and organisational activity. “When leadership questions remain unresolved, it inevitably distracts both the govt and the party. Both officials and cadres want clarity,” said a senior Congress functionary.Political observers say the high command cannot fully distance itself from the issue, noting Kharge’s local-level framing a month after asserting the matter would be resolved centrally. “In a party like Congress, leadership questions in a major state cannot be treated as purely local matters. The high command’s silence or ambiguity itself becomes a message,” said political analyst MN Patil. He added that prolonged uncertainty encourages factional manoeuvring and the emergence of parallel power centres.While Shivakumar has indicated he is not keen on the CM post, insiders say informal lobbying by rival camps is unlikely to stop. “Even if leaders make conciliatory statements publicly, the ground reality is different. Supporters of different leaders continue to push narratives,” a party functionary said.The uncertainty is affecting the administration as well, according to senior IAS officials. “Whenever there is talk of a CM change, it creates hesitation in decision-making. Officers become cautious, unsure about continuity,” said a senior official. Though no major policy paralysis has been reported, the perception of uncertainty is considered damaging.Opposition BJP and JD(S) have stepped up attacks, accusing Congress of being consumed by internal power struggles. Opposition leaders R Ashoka and Chalavadi Narayanaswamy have often ridiculed the govt, saying the lack of clarity reflects deep-rooted factionalism and questions the govt’s ability to focus on governance. “Congress is busy deciding who will be the chief minister instead of addressing people’s issues,” Ashoka alleged.Experts note that prolonged ambiguity carries political costs. “Unresolved leadership questions weaken party messaging. It becomes difficult to project a united front when speculation dominates governance,” said political commentator Vishwas Shetty.Some Congress insiders suggest the leadership may be allowing time for tensions to ease as they know any decision will cost the party dear. “Sometimes ambiguity is used to prevent escalation and maintain balance between factions,” a party strategist added.