Congress leaders denied reports of a leadership change in Karnataka as Siddaramaiah
May 26, 2026: Congress MLA B K Hariprasad on Tuesday dismissed speculation surrounding a possible leadership change in Karnataka, accusing the BJP’s “troll factory” of spreading misinformation. Defending Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Hariprasad said the Congress leadership had chosen him to lead the government for a full five-year term and there was no reason to discuss a change unless serious allegations emerged.
Hariprasad alleged that the BJP was attempting to create instability in Karnataka through social media campaigns and misleading political narratives. He said the Congress remained strong in the state and claimed Siddaramaiah’s visit to Delhi was focused on preparing strategy for upcoming elections. Meanwhile, Congress MLC Saleem Ahmed said discussions with the high command would include Rajya Sabha polls, MLC elections and cabinet expansion, but refused to comment on the leadership issue, calling it a “Lakshman Rekha.”
Senior Congress MLA TB Jayachandra described the Delhi meeting as crucial, saying several organisational and political matters were expected to be discussed. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar attended the meeting at Indira Bhavan alongside Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, KC Venugopal, Randeep Surjewala and Sachin Pilot. However, senior leaders avoided directly responding to questions regarding leadership speculation in Karnataka.