The political pot in Karnataka is boiling once again, and this time, it’s the Congress party at the heart of the storm. Barely a year after its resounding victory in the 2023 Assembly elections, internal fault lines have begun to show. A simmering power struggle between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar has now exploded into the open — threatening not only the unity of the state unit but also casting shadows over Congress’s national image.
No Leadership Change, Says Siddaramaiah
Amid rising tensions and speculation, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has made it clear: he isn’t going anywhere. Firmly shutting down the buzz around a mid-term leadership transition, he said he intends to complete his full five-year term.
“I will remain Chief Minister for the full tenure,” he reiterated, aiming to settle nerves both inside and outside the party.
DK Shivakumar’s Flip-Flop Raises Eyebrows
At the center of the speculation is DK Shivakumar — the ambitious Karnataka Congress President and current Deputy CM. What began as murmurs of a “rotational chief ministership” — a supposed backroom deal struck before the 2023 elections — became full-blown speculation when Congress MLA Iqbal Hussain claimed last week that Shivakumar would replace Siddaramaiah within months.
Shivakumar’s response? Ambiguous and symbolic.
During a visit to the revered Chamundeshwari Temple in Mysuru, Shivakumar stated cryptically, “Efforts may fail, but prayers never do.” He also expressed a clear desire to become Chief Minister with the blessings of the goddess. Many political observers saw this as a direct challenge to Siddaramaiah’s authority.
However, in a surprising shift the next day, Shivakumar publicly deferred to the party high command, stating that he would “abide by whatever decision Khargeji and the leadership make.” The abrupt change in tone has left political analysts puzzled — is it a tactical retreat, or the calm before a storm?
Congress High Command Scrambles to Control the Fire
With tensions escalating, the Congress high command swung into damage control. Congress General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala rushed to Bengaluru and held closed-door meetings with MLAs, Siddaramaiah, and Shivakumar separately.
The intervention came after Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge’s vague comments on leadership unity inadvertently added fuel to the fire. Kharge, seen as a neutral figure with deep roots in Karnataka politics, is now reportedly under pressure to mediate a truce between two warring camps — one loyal to Siddaramaiah, the other to Shivakumar.
Symbolism, Silence, and Signals
While Shivakumar may not be openly challenging the leadership anymore, his actions continue to raise speculation. Political symbolism — temple visits, cryptic remarks, and calibrated media silence — all seem part of a larger strategy.
Sources suggest that Shivakumar believes the leadership transition was promised after 2.5 years — and he intends to claim it. He reportedly brought evidence of administrative failures and corruption cases to high-level party meetings, pressing the point that the Siddaramaiah-led government is not delivering on Congress’s promises.
A top insider said: “He was clear — if the party doesn’t keep its word, the party will split.”
BJP Watching Closely — Ready to Strike?
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is watching the drama unfold with keen interest. Senior leaders have hinted that they’d welcome Shivakumar “with open arms” if he ever decided to jump ship.
This is not just conjecture. Past examples — Himanta Biswa Sarma in Assam, Jyotiraditya Scindia in Madhya Pradesh — show that disgruntled Congress satraps have often found refuge, and political rewards, in the BJP.
There are also whispers that Shivakumar met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Coimbatore during Shivaratri this year, further intensifying speculation that he may be keeping Plan B ready if Congress fails to honor its internal arrangements.
Crisis Beyond Karnataka: Telangana, Himachal Also in Trouble; Is Rahul Gandhi Losing Grip?
The leadership crisis in the Congress party isn’t confined to Karnataka — it’s rapidly spreading to other key states, revealing cracks in the party’s governance and strategic coordination. As the monsoon session of Parliament approaches, the Congress high command finds itself battling fires on multiple fronts.
Telangana: The Congress CM, once affiliated with the RSS student wing, is facing opposition from within. Multiple factions have begun emerging, and ED cases loom in the background.
Himachal Pradesh: Congress MLAs are questioning Rahul Gandhi’s pre-election promises — from scholarships and women’s welfare to electricity and water subsidies. Many feel the leadership is absent and disinterested.
The dissatisfaction in the states comes just as the monsoon session of Parliament is about to begin, with the Congress caught between managing local crises and building a national opposition narrative.
Leadership Vacuum and Strategic Drift
One of the key criticisms from within Congress is that Rahul Gandhi is aloof during crises. Despite the Karnataka rift dominating headlines for over a week, there has been no public intervention by Rahul. Party insiders claim that he is more focused on larger ideological battles and foreign narratives — including criticisms of India’s electoral process and soft praise for China — than fixing party infighting at home.
An insider lamented, “Rahul talks about defending democracy, but what about saving his own governments? Karnataka, Telangana, Himachal — all are slipping.”
A Victory at Risk
Congress’s 2023 triumph in Karnataka was a rare moment of unity and purpose. It gave the party momentum and proof that it could counter BJP when united. But the current chaos risks squandering all those gains.
Political observers warn that Congress may be repeating the same mistakes it made in:
Rajasthan – where Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot’s feud led to paralysis.
Madhya Pradesh – where Jyotiraditya Scindia’s exit toppled the government.
Chhattisgarh – where CM Bhupesh Baghel and TS Singh Deo’s rivalry dragged on for years.
If Karnataka implodes, it could significantly dent Congress’s credibility ahead of the 2026 state elections and the 2029 general election.
🧠 The Bottom Line
The Congress party may have won the election in Karnataka, but it’s now struggling to govern its own house. The Siddaramaiah-Shivakumar rivalry is not just a personal power tussle — it is emblematic of a deeper malaise within the party: the lack of clear communication, enforceable commitments, and a leadership that responds to crises with urgency.
Unless the Congress resolves this soon, the story of Karnataka could be yet another chapter in the party’s long list of self-inflicted defeats.
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