Cong high command will decide on matters like changing CM, says Mallikarjun Kharge
Kharge has no real authority in party: BJP's dig at Cong chief
Bengaluru, Jun 30 (PTI): Amid Congress leaders in Karnataka openly discussing possible change of Chief Minister in the state, AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday said it is up to the party high command to decide on such matters and that one should not create any unnecessary problem.
Kharge was responding to media queries about some Congress leaders in the state claiming about a change in the post of chief minister in October.
"See, that is in the hands of the high command. Nobody can say here what is going on in the high command. This is left to the high command, and the high command has got power to take further action. But unnecessarily, one should not create a problem," he told reporters here.
In 2023, when the Congress assumed power in the southern state, there were speculations that Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar would helm the state for 2.5 years each, as per a rotational formula, claims the party has neither confirmed nor rejected so far. Currently, Siddaramaiah is the chief minister and Shivakumar his deputy.
Meanwhile, Congress General Secretary in-charge of Karnataka, Randeep Singh Surjewala, who is in Bengaluru met with party legislators here, amid signs of disgruntlement and speculations about leadership change within the ruling party.
Reacting to his visit, Kharge said, "Surjewala has come. Based on his report and what feedback he gathers, we will decide what steps to take."
Calling Kharge an accidental AICC president, Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, R Ashoka, asked, "If Kharge is not the party high command, then who is?"
In a post on 'X', Ashoka said, "Looks like Congress has gifted us another ‘accidental’ leader. First, it was Dr. Manmohan Singh, the PM who had the chair but not the command, who had the responsibility but no power. Now it’s Mallikarjun Kharge, the Accidental AICC President, who proudly admits he doesn’t know what the 'high command' is thinking," he said in a post on 'X'.
"Dear Kharge Ji, if you are not the high command, then who is? RahulGandhi? Sonia Gandhi? Priyanka Gandhi or is it an invisible committee of one surname? In @INCIndia, the President is just there for appearances, while decisions are taken behind closed doors at 10 Janpath," Ashoka alleged.
He claimed that Kharge isn't leading the Congress, he’s leading a "masterclass in con-graceful surrender".
"Same script, new actor. Still directed by the Gandhi family," he added.
There was no immediate response to Ashoka from the Congress side.
Looks like Congress has gifted us another ‘accidental’ leader.
— R. Ashoka (@RAshokaBJP) June 30, 2025
First it was Dr. Manmohan Singh, the PM who had the chair but not the command, who had the responsibility but no power. Now it’s Shri Mallikarjun Kharge, the Accidental AICC President who proudly admits he doesn’t… https://t.co/fNinvbVBKH
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Man murdered over decade-old personal dispute, accused arrested
Belagavi (Karnataka) (PTI): A 49-year-old man was hacked to death with a machete in this district, allegedly over a personal dispute dating back nearly a decade, police said on Tuesday.
The deceased has been identified as Basappa Hosamani, a resident of Sadoni village, they said.
The accused, Irayya Sangayya Mathapati (32), has been arrested in connection with the murder, police said.
According to the police, the incident occurred on Monday evening in Hoolikatti village of Savadatti taluk.
The crime is linked to an incident that took place about ten years ago, when Hosamani allegedly eloped with the accused's mother and went to Kolhapur in Maharashtra. At the time, accused Mathapati was 18-years-old.
Police said Hosamani had recently returned to the village for some work after leaving the woman in Kolhapur.
Investigators believe the accused, who had been nursing a long-standing grudge over the issue, attacked Hosamani with a machete, inflicting multiple fatal injuries.
After the incident, the accused allegedly informed the police himself and remained at the scene until officers arrived, they said.
A case of murder has been registered at the Savadatti police station, and further investigation is underway.
