Congress Leaders Hold Discussions on Karnataka Leadership Tensions at 10 Janpath

Amid ongoing tensions in Karnataka, Congress leaders, including Sonia Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, convened at 10 Janpath to address leadership issues. The meeting was inconclusive, with plans for further discussions to ensure party unity.

The Congress leadership in Karnataka is currently embroiled in a power struggle, prompting top party officials to meet on Saturday. The discussions, however, did not yield any conclusions, and another meeting is planned soon. The aim is to ease tensions between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy, D K Shivakumar.

Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi hosted the meeting at her residence on 10, Janpath. Attendees included Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, former party chief Rahul Gandhi, and AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal. They discussed the ongoing political situation in Karnataka.

Leadership Tensions and Unity

After the meeting, Venugopal addressed reporters, stating, "We had a general discussion about the current political situation. We also discussed Karnataka, but there will be another discussion about Karnataka." He emphasised that the Congress remains united both nationally and within Karnataka.

The leadership issue has intensified as the Congress government reached the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20. Speculations about a change in chief minister have been rife, adding to the internal tensions within the party.

Upcoming Rally Preparations

Venugopal also mentioned preparations for a rally scheduled for December 14 against what they term "vote chori." This event was part of the broader discussions on the political landscape during the meeting.

Earlier in Bengaluru, Shivakumar accompanied Kharge to the airport after paying tribute to B R Ambedkar on his 69th death anniversary. This led to speculation about possible discussions on leadership issues between them.

Efforts to Maintain Stability

In recent developments, both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar have held breakfast meetings at each other's residences. These meetings were reportedly instructed by the high command to pause leadership tensions and signal Siddaramaiah's continuation as Chief Minister for now.

This move is seen as strategic, especially with the Belagavi legislature session approaching. The high command's intervention aims to maintain stability within the party amid ongoing speculations.

The Congress leadership continues to navigate these challenges while striving to present a united front. Further discussions are anticipated as they work towards resolving internal disputes and focusing on upcoming political events.

With inputs from PTI