NEW DELHI: Despite marathon meetings with the high command, the tussle between Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar over the state's top job does not appear to be ending soon. As Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge courted both leaders in Delhi to decide party candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections, the point of interest remained the protracted leadership tussle.
Leadership Formula Offered
News agency PTI, citing sources, reported that the Shivakumar camp has been pressing Siddaramaiah to quit the top post. A formula to accommodate him in a central role has been offered to him, which he has not accepted. The formula includes giving Siddaramaiah a Rajya Sabha seat, they said. The party, however, did not comment on this.
Stalemate Continues
The ongoing power struggle highlights the deep divisions within the Karnataka Congress unit. Both leaders have held multiple rounds of discussions with the party high command, but no resolution has been reached. Siddaramaiah's refusal to step down has intensified the standoff, with Shivakumar's supporters demanding a change in leadership.
The Congress party is keen to project unity ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections and the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. However, the internal discord poses a challenge to the party's efforts to present a cohesive front. The high command is expected to continue its efforts to broker a compromise between the two factions.
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