Satish Jarkiholi, the state minister and working president of the KPCC, brushed off rumors of a succession plan within the Congress party on Thursday. The chief minister Siddaramaiah’s son, Dr. Yathindra Siddaramaih, stated on Tuesday that Jarkiholi was best suited to lead and steer the party following his father’s retirement from active politics. He provided his own explanation for the statement.
Jarkiholi stated the chief minister’s son was talking about shared values rather than a change in leadership when speaking in Kittur, Belagavi district. “Dr. Yathindra has not mentioned the KPCC president or the next chief minister. He only stated that I might become the state’s next AHINDA head, and I don’t believe it to be incorrect,” Jarkiholi remarked. He believes that I agree with his father’s liberal and progressive views. I don’t see anything wrong with it, but it’s his perspective.
“My father is now in the final stage of his political life,” Yathindra said Tuesday while speaking at a function in Kappalagudd village, Raibag taluk, Belagavi district. We require a leader who can take command and lead individuals who adhere to progressive and logical ideals during such a period. That will be Jarkiholi’s responsibility. He will, in my opinion, serve as an example for all lawmakers and aspiring leaders who share the views of the Congress party.
Yathindra’s statement, according to Jarkiholi, was misunderstood as a critique of political succession. “It doesn’t mean I’ll replace Mr. Siddaramaiah before the end of the term, or that he will leave in the middle. “As of right now, the party has not discussed or proposed changing its leadership,” he stated. Declaring that he still plans to run for chief minister in 2028, Jarkiholi reiterated his long-standing political ambition. “I have previously stated this. It is up to the party high leadership to choose the next chief minister after consulting with lawmakers. The selection of the next government’s leader will have to wait,” he stated.
“Any such decision would rest entirely with the Congress leadership,” Jarkiholi added. “Yathindra has merely voiced his own personal viewpoint. The party and the MLAs will make the final decision. We should wait and see what happens; there’s still time,” he remarked. The minister said he was deeply committed to the AHINDA movement, a political framework that represents Dalits, minorities, and backward sections. “The leadership of AHINDA is undeniable. In the past and even now, I have been one. Without the AHINDA brand, I can’t do politics,” he declared.
Later on, Yathindra Siddaramaiah acknowledged that his remarks had been misunderstood. “My father will not run for office in 2028. His political career is coming to an end. There need to be a progressive thinker at this point who agrees with him and can lead the Congress, he stated. Since then, a number of high-ranking officials have made an effort to quell rumors of internal rivalry. G. Parameshwara, the home minister, claimed that the comments were being taken out of context.”
“They claimed that he possesses the capacity for leadership, but they stated nothing about it. What’s the matter with that? There is no discussion of the chief minister’s position. It’s what you’re saying,” he said to reporters.
However, some party members continue to feel uneasy. Known to be loyal to the Shivakumar faction, Channagiri MLA Basavaraj Shivaganaga criticized the leadership of treating internal statements with “double standards.” “We receive notifications right away if we make any contentious remarks about power sharing. However, the Chief Minister’s son is not notified when he makes such remarks,” he stated.
