Leadership Battle Heats Up in Karnataka Congress

Vitthala Katakadhonda, a Congress MLA from Nagthan, has staked his claim for a ministerial role amid leadership disputes in Karnataka Congress. CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar demonstrated party unity, committing to the high command's decisions, with a strategic focus on upcoming elections.

In the midst of an ongoing leadership dispute within the Congress party in Karnataka, Vitthala Katakadhonda, MLA from Nagthan, has publicly asserted his aspiration for a ministerial post. Speaking on Saturday, Katakadhonda expressed confidence that the party's high command will make a timely decision regarding the CM position, which he believes should be discussed during the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting.

The MLA emphasized his qualification for the role, suggesting he could be appointed under the SC's quota. "A decision on the CM post is crucial and should be expedited," Katakadhonda urged, highlighting the need for clarity on this prominent issue.

Amidst these developments, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar sought to project a unified front. Following a breakfast meeting at Siddaramaiah's Cauvery residence, both leaders stated their commitment to abide by the party high command's decisions, stressing the absence of any real internal discord, as portrayed by the media, and reaffirming their collaborative efforts in electoral strategies for the upcoming 2028 elections and local polls.

At the press conference, Shivakumar echoed Siddaramaiah's sentiments, pledging to fulfill the electorate's wishes in alignment with the high command's strategies. As the leadership question lingers, the Congress party's high command, led by President Mallikarjun Kharge and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi, is poised to make a decisive intervention, potentially reshaping the political landscape in Karnataka.

(With inputs from agencies.)