Next Assembly election in Karnataka under collective leadership, says Mallikarjun Kharge

BENGALURU: Conflicting views continue to be aired in Congress over the issue of leadership for the next Assembly election.

Party floor leader in Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday said that the party would fight the next assembly election in the state under a collective leadership of senior leaders.

Kharge’s statement comes in the backdrop of Siddaramaiah’s claim that the next election would be fought under his(Siddu’s)leadership and the party high command would decide the Chief Ministerial candidate after the party wins.

Kharge told reporters here on Sunday, “In BJP, only Modi would speak. But we have many leaders to whom we are answerable. We have a high command. We will fight the next assembly election under collective leadership.”

However, some senior leaders in Congress have been sulking at the rising stature of Siddaramaiah, who is being seen as an outsider. Kharge’s statement lends further credence to the group, which is keen to rein-in Siddaramaiah.