AICC leader KC Venugopal rejects speculation of a CM change in Karnataka, stressing Congress will decide leadership matters internally.

Bengaluru: AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal on Friday shut down ongoing speculation over a possible change in Karnataka’s chief ministership, stressing that the Congress leadership alone will decide on such matters.

“The Indian National Congress is fully capable of taking decisions for itself. Please leave that decision to the party,” Venugopal told reporters. He also criticized the repeated questioning over a so-called power-sharing deal, quipping that the media seemed to have “only one agenda” whenever he visited.

Talk of a leadership switch has persisted since last year’s Assembly elections, when Siddaramaiah was chosen as CM and D K Shivakumar accepted the post of Deputy CM after intense negotiations. Unconfirmed reports had hinted at a two-and-a-half-year rotational CM formula, fueling fresh rounds of speculation each time the issue resurfaces.

Local analysts note that such recurring chatter reflects the Congress’s internal balancing act in Karnataka, where both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar enjoy strong support bases. However, Venugopal’s categorical dismissal indicates that the central leadership is unwilling to let speculation dictate the narrative. For voters, stability at the top may prove more valuable than endless talk of reshuffles.