Facing mounting speculation regarding a potential change in leadership within Karnataka and fueled by a leaked video featuring Congress MLA BR Patil, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has publicly declared his commitment to remain in office until the end of his term. The emergence of a recorded phone call involving Patil has further intensified the debate about internal divisions within the Congress party in the state. Patil’s comments have raised questions about Siddaramaiah’s position.
While Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has affirmed that the Congress party is united and denies the existence of any internal factions, Patil’s remarks have presented a contrasting perspective. When questioned about his intention to serve a full five-year term, Siddaramaiah responded assertively, “Yes, I will. Why do you have a doubt?”
He added that his government will complete its five-year term without any disruption, labeling the accusations as “lies.” Siddaramaiah also explained that a recent cabinet meeting in Bengaluru was one in a series of divisional meetings planned across Karnataka. He emphasized that these meetings are part of ongoing administrative efforts.
The controversy has been heightened by a video recorded during Patil’s visit to Mandya. In the video, Patil is heard suggesting that Siddaramaiah’s rise to Chief Minister was due to fortunate circumstances. Patil also claimed to have facilitated Siddaramaiah’s introduction to Sonia Gandhi.
Earlier, Minister KN Rajanna had also contributed to the speculation. He suggested that the party was experiencing the emergence of multiple power centers, which may lead to internal friction. Siddaramaiah, however, dismissed these claims and insisted there were no internal disputes.