Bengaluru, December 20, 2025
In a bid to quell mounting speculations over a potential leadership shake-up in Karnataka's Congress government, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Saturday reiterated his commitment to party discipline, stating that he and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah would await a summons from the Congress high command "at the right time." The remarks come amid weeks of behind-the-scenes maneuvering and public posturing that have fueled rumors of a power-sharing rift between the two senior leaders.
Speaking to reporters after visiting the Jagadishwari Temple in Ankola, Uttara Kannada district, Shivakumar emphasized unity and dismissed any notion of discord. "The high command will call the CM and me at the appropriate time. Both of us will go [to Delhi]," he said, adding that he, Siddaramaiah, and the party's central leadership are "bound by a pact." The Vokkaliga strongman, who also serves as the state Congress president, has been at the center of whispers about ascending to the chief minister's post, possibly under a rotational formula agreed upon before the 2023 assembly elections.
The controversy traces back to an alleged "two-and-a-half-year" power-sharing arrangement between Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah, brokered by the high command to balance caste dynamics in the state's diverse political landscape. Siddaramaiah, a Lingayat leader from the backward classes, assumed the CM role post the Congress's landslide victory in May 2023. However, as the halfway mark approaches, Shivakumar's camp has grown vocal, with reports of private dinners and meetings among over 40 MLAs at a Belagavi farmhouse last week sparking fresh intrigue. Shivakumar downplayed these gatherings as non-political, insisting, "We are all one group."
Siddaramaiah, addressing the issue head-on during the ongoing Belagavi Winter Session, struck a defiant tone. "I will serve the full five-year term. There is no power tussle," the veteran leader declared, underscoring his backing from the high command. His son, Yathindra Siddaramaiah, a Congress MP, has also been dragged into the fray, with unparliamentary barbs exchanged in the assembly, further highlighting the simmering tensions.
Party insiders suggest the high command, led by figures like Mallikarjun Kharge and KC Venugopal, has deferred a final call until after December 24, amid Rahul Gandhi's reported interventions to stabilize the southern unit. Shivakumar's recent Delhi visits, including a meeting with Sonia Gandhi earlier this month, have only amplified the buzz, though he maintains they were routine. Sources close to the development indicate that any decision could hinge on the government's performance in implementing key promises like the Gruha Jyothi scheme and drought relief measures.
Opposition parties, particularly the BJP, have seized on the discord to mock the Congress's internal stability. BJP state chief BY Vijayendra quipped on social media about the "CM post fight," while MLAs like Basangouda Patil Yatnal predicted Shivakumar's imminent elevation. Karnataka BJP spokesperson accused the ruling party of "dinner politics" during the Winter Session, referencing Shivakumar's camp's lunch meets.
As the high command deliberates, the duo's public displays of camaraderie—such as joint appearances and temple runs—appear more like damage control than genuine harmony. With the 2028 assembly polls on the horizon, the resolution of this tussle could define the Congress's fortunes in India's most industrialized southern state. For now, Shivakumar's message is clear: patience, until Delhi speaks.
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