NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday mocked Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s “high command” remark amid speculation about a possible change of leadership in the Karnataka government, asking who exactly is the “party high command” if not Kharge himself.In a post on X, BJP leader Tejasvi Surya likened the Congress high command to a ghost - "unseen and unheard, but always felt."“The Congress high command is like a ghost. It is unseen, unheard, but always felt. Even the Congress president, who people thought is the high command, whispers its name and says it’s not him,” Surya said.

“So eerie!” he added.Earlier in the day, Kharge had hinted at a possible leadership change in the Karnataka government, stating that the “party high command has got the power” to take action.Responding to speculation about a potential change in the chief ministerial post in October, Kharge said,“See, that is in the hands of the high command. Nobody can say here what is going on in the high command. This is left to the high command.”“High command has got power to take further actions. But unnecessarily, one should not create problems,” he added.This comes a day after Congress MLA HA Iqbal Hussain stoked speculation by claiming that deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar could become chief minister within the next two to three months.

“You all know what our (Congress’s) strength was before this government came to power. Everyone knows who put in the struggle, sweat, effort, and interest to achieve this victory. His (Shivakumar’s) strategy and programmes are history now,” Hussain said.“I don’t believe in speculation. We have full confidence that the high command is aware of the situation and will take an appropriate decision at the right time to give him an opportunity,” he added.When asked if Shivakumar would be given the CM post this year, Hussain replied, “Yes, I’m saying it. The date some leaders are hinting at for revolutionary political developments after September — this is what they are talking about. A decision will be made within two to three months.”“That’s what I’m saying. I’m not beating around the bush; I’m speaking directly,” he emphasised.However, when reminded that Siddaramaiah’s son and MLC Yathindra Siddaramaiah had dismissed the buzz as mere speculation, Hussain noted that the party’s central leadership had earlier made the decision on government formation after the 2023 assembly polls.“We were all together in Delhi then. Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Mallikarjun Kharge made the decision. Everyone knows that. They will take the next decision too — we’ll have to wait and watch,” he said.Earlier, Cooperation Minister KN Rajanna had also hinted at “revolutionary” political developments after September.