‘Confusion at state level’: Mallikarjun Kharge on Karnataka CM row; defends Cong high command | India News
NEW DELHI: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday defended the party’s high command amid the ongoing leadership issue in Karnataka, saying the “confusion” lies at the local level.“The high command hasn’t created any confusion. It exists at the local level. How is it right to put the blame on the high command?” he said while speaking to reporters in Kalaburagi in Karnataka, his home state.Kharge urged Congress’ local leaders to take “ownership” of the internal disputes instead of blaming the high command.The veteran politician also cautioned party leaders against claiming credit for the party’s electoral successes.“Everyone has built the party. It’s not the effort of any one individual. Congress has been built by party workers. Congress workers supported us,” he stated, without naming anyone.His remarks come amid the ongoing power tussle in Karnataka between chief minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy, DK Shivakumar, who also heads the Congress’ state unit.It has been widely reported that after the Congress won the May 2023 Karnataka assembly elections—ousting its arch-rival BJP from power—the rand old party’s high command had promised to make Shivakumar chief minister for the second half of the five-year term, while opting for veteran Siddaramaiah initially.Siddaramaiah completed 2.5 years of his term on November 20.The chief minister on Friday expressed confidence that the party leadership would back him to complete his full five-year term.(With PTI inputs)
