Overview

• Mallikarjun Kharge publicly recalled that his five years as Congress Legislature Party leader went “down the drain” after SM Krishna was picked as Karnataka chief minister in 1999 despite joining the party just four months earlier.
• BJP leader R. Ashoka accused the Congress high command of tokenism, arguing that Dalit leaders like Kharge are blocked from senior roles.
• Home Minister G. Parameshwara said there was nothing wrong if Kharge, as party president, decides to return to state politics to address leadership gaps.
• Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar defended Kharge’s right to express his disappointment but urged that internal disputes should not be aired publicly.
• Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s decision to hold district-wise strategy meetings without Deputy CM Shivakumar has underscored a factional split and reignited questions over succession and Dalit representation.