Mysuru

Senior Congress leader and MLA K. N. Rajanna on Thursday said the party has more than a dozen leaders with the capability to lead Karnataka as chief minister if the high command decides on a change in leadership.

Amid continuing speculation over a possible leadership transition in the ruling Congress government, Rajanna said several senior leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge, are qualified to occupy the top post.

He also acknowledged that Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar may have stronger aspirations for the role, given his position as president of the state unit of the Indian National Congress.

Speaking to reporters after meeting Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Mysuru, Rajanna urged the party’s central leadership to take a clear and timely decision to end ongoing uncertainty over the issue.

He warned that prolonged ambiguity regarding leadership and cabinet restructuring could affect governance, administration and the party’s organisational functioning.

Rajanna said the high command should either allow Siddaramaiah to go ahead with a cabinet reshuffle or make an early decision on a possible leadership transition.

Referring to speculation around Shivakumar’s supporters expecting “good news” around May 15, which coincides with the deputy chief minister’s birthday, Rajanna said optimism among supporters was natural.

He named several senior leaders — including Kharge, Shivakumar, G. Parameshwara, M. B. Patil and H. K. Patil — as leaders with the stature to become chief minister.

“At least a dozen leaders in our party are capable of becoming chief minister,” Rajanna said, adding that Shivakumar’s aspirations were understandable given his organisational role.

The remarks come as political discussions intensify over a possible leadership change after the Congress government crossed the halfway mark of its five-year term in November 2025.

The speculation has been linked to reports of a power-sharing understanding reached between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar when Congress formed the government after the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections.

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Siddaramaiah, however, on Wednesday maintained that the Congress government would complete its full five-year term, while avoiding a direct answer on whether he personally would remain chief minister for the entire tenure.