Bengaluru, December 19, 2025 – In a firm rebuttal to swirling rumors of a mid-term leadership shift, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah declared on Friday that he intends to serve out his full five-year term, emphasizing the unwavering support of the Congress party's central leadership. The statement, delivered during the final day of the state Assembly's Winter Session in Belagavi, comes amid heightened speculation over an alleged power-sharing arrangement with Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress president D.K. Shivakumar (DKS).
"I am the Chief Minister now, and I will continue," Siddaramaiah asserted in response to pointed queries from BJP legislators, who pressed him on reports of a rotational two-and-a-half-year tenure deal struck at the time of the Congress government's formation in May 2023. Dismissing the claims outright, the 82-year-old veteran leader added, "I never said that I will be the Chief Minister for two-and-a-half years. There is no such agreement." He further expressed confidence in the party's high command, stating, "I believe the high command is in my favour and will continue as long as the high command wishes."
The remarks underscore Siddaramaiah's determination to quash internal party tensions that have simmered since the Congress swept to power in the 2023 Assembly elections, securing 135 seats. Speculation intensified earlier this month following media reports and political grapevine suggesting Shivakumar, a key architect of the victory with his organizational prowess in southern Karnataka, was positioning himself for the top job after the halfway mark. To counter the narrative, the duo staged high-profile "unity breakfasts" at each other's residences on December 2, where they publicly affirmed their commitment to party discipline.
Supporting his senior colleague, Shivakumar echoed the deference to the party's apex body, telling reporters, "We will follow the directions of the high command." He added that he, Siddaramaiah, and the high command are "bound by a pact," signaling a collective resolve to prioritize governance over personal ambitions. Shivakumar, who holds the finance portfolio alongside his deputy CM role, has repeatedly downplayed any rift, insisting that decisions on leadership rest solely with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and the Gandhi family.
The exchange in the Assembly turned into a heated political showdown, with Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka of the BJP seizing on Siddaramaiah's earlier ambiguous comments—such as a recent assurance that he would remain CM "as long as the high command wants"—to demand clarity. "You were elected for five years by the Legislative Party. What about 2.5 years?" Ashoka challenged, accusing the Congress of internal discord akin to the BJP's past alliance troubles with JD(S). Siddaramaiah fired back, reminding the BJP of former CM B.S. Yediyurappa's unfulfilled promise of a full term before his 2019 resignation, and confidently predicted, "We will complete the full term and return to power in 2028...I'm the CM till the high command says."
Siddaramaiah also tied his tenure to the government's flagship guarantees, responding to BJP queries on commitments like free electricity and financial aid for North Karnataka by affirming, "I am confident that the high command will allow me to complete five years' term." This comes against the backdrop of the Congress facing scrutiny over implementation delays in its five pre-poll promises, though recent surveys indicate sustained public support for the Siddaramaiah regime.
Political analysts view the episode as a tactical move by Siddaramaiah to consolidate his position ahead of the 2028 elections, while Shivakumar's restraint may reflect strategic patience amid the high command's reported tilt toward the incumbent. "This is not my government, it is our government," Siddaramaiah reiterated, invoking party unity as the session adjourned.
As Karnataka navigates economic challenges and upcoming local polls, all eyes remain on the Congress high command for any signals on the leadership equation. For now, Siddaramaiah's bold proclamation appears to have steadied the ship, at least publicly.
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