No time frame fixed on tenure of CM Siddaramaiah, says Home Minister Parameshwara

As the ruling Congress in Karnataka inches closer to the halfway point of its tenure in November, Home Minister G. Parameshwara said on Tuesday that no time frame was specified for the tenure of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

Speaking to reporters here, Dr. Parameshwara said Mr. Siddaramaiah was elected leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) after the 2023 Assembly elections to become the Chief Minister for the five-year term.

After the party secured a majority in the 2023 polls, the CLP leader (Mr. Siddaramaiah) was elected in a meeting of all MLAs. “We were not told then that he would be Chief Minister for only two-and-a-half years,” Dr. Parameshwara said.

On the issue of a possible change of leadership 30 months after the formation of the government, he said, “We are not aware of any developments since then. In our view, we chose Mr. Siddaramaiah to be the Chief Minister for five years.”

If high command decides

However, the Home Minister was quick to add, “If the high command decides otherwise, we will accept it—that is all we can do. We had not fixed any time frame while choosing the CLP leader; if the high command decides anything else, it is up to them.”

On Dalit organisations’ demand for a Dalit Chief Minister, Dr. Parameshwara said various organisations have expressed their views. “The Congress is like a training school. There are many leaders capable of becoming the Chief Ministers. We cannot give statements daily on leadership change.”

Taking another view, Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi said the time has not come for Dalit leaders to occupy the top post now. “They (Dalits) have to wait for the opportunity,” he said.

Need his blessing

Meanwhile, speaking to a private TV channel, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar stressed the need for Mr. Siddaramaiah’s support and blessing for the Congress party’s future success in the State.

A loyalist of the Chief Minister, Social Welfare Minister H.C. Mahadevappa found nothing wrong with Mr. Siddaramaiah’s statement that the high command will make a decision on whether or not to continue him as the Chief Minister.

Many moods and shades

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah appears to be changing the tone and tenor of his statements related to leadership change. On July 2 and 10, 2025, Mr. Siddaramaiah categorically stated that he would remain in the post for the full five-year term and indicated that he would also lead the party in the 2028 Legislative Assembly elections.

Since then, he has been less categorical in his statements. While he once talked of the importance of support of MLAs, at other times he has spoken about every decision resting solely with the high command.