Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday said that there will be no change in leadership in Karnataka “for now”, PTI reported.

Congress leader Siddaramaiah is the chief minister of the state, while party leader DK Shivakumar is the deputy chief minister.

Kharge’s remark came a day after state Home Minister G Parameshwara said that party members would “be very happy” if Kharge were to become chief minister, “because he is a senior politician with a lot of experience”, PTI reported.

This also came against the backdrop of fresh speculation about a possible change of chief minister after the Congress government completed half of its five-year term on November 20, PTI reported.

After the Assembly polls in May 2023, reports claimed there had been competition between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar for the chief minister’s post.

At the time, some reports claimed that a compromise had been reached based on a “rotational chief minister formula”, under which Shivakumar would take over the post after two and a half years.

The Congress has never confirmed that there had been such an agreement and in July, Siddaramaiah said that he would remain in office for the full five-year term.

On Thursday, Kharge acknowledged that sections of the media and Parameshwara had suggested it would be “better” if he led the state, but said that the decision was not his to make.

“More than fate, as per my ideology and as per my service to the party so far, Sonia Gandhi takes decisions regarding me,” IANS quoted the Congress chief as saying

He added that the “question does not arise now” as Karnataka already has a chief minister.

“If Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and I, together have to take any decision in the direction of a change, it will take some time,” Kharge added.