NEW DELHI: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday defended the party’s high command amid the ongoing leadership issue in Karnataka, saying the “confusion” is at the local level.“The high command hasn’t created any confusion. The confusion exists at the local level. Is it right to put the blame on the high command?” he said while speaking to reporters in Kalaburagi in Karnataka, his home state.Kharge called on the Congress’ local leaders to take “ownership” of the internal disputes instead of blaming the high command.The veteran politician also cautioned leaders against claiming credit for the party’s electoral successes.“Everyone has built the party. It’s not the effort of any one individual. Congress has been built by party workers. Congress workers supported us,” he said, without naming anyone.His remarks come amid the ongoing power tussle in Karnataka between chief minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy, DK Shivakumar, who also heads the Congress’ state unit.It has been widely reported that after the Congress won the May 2023 Karnataka assembly elections—ousting its arch-rival BJP from power—the high command had promised to make Shivakumar chief minister for the second half of the five-year term, while opting for veteran Siddaramaiah initially.Under Siddaramaiah, Karnataka’s Congress government completed the first 2.5 years of its term on November 20.The chief minister on Friday expressed confidence that the party leadership would back him to complete his full five-year term.(With PTI inputs)
