The power tussle between Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar continued to trouble the Congress on Friday morning as pressure intensified on the party high command to settle the leadership dispute that has lingered since the 2023 election win, a dispute that now threatens to destabilise the state government if not resolved quickly
Congress insiders revealed that Siddaramaiah’s position is not under immediate threat, senior leaders believe his strong backing within the party keeps him firmly in place, he remains a prominent OBC figure with the support of the Ahinda communities and a clear majority of MLAs, making it nearly impossible to replace him without his approval
Meanwhile Shivakumar and his faction continue to push for clarity on the power sharing arrangement, members of his camp recently met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge in Delhi, their pressure could slow down the cabinet reshuffle that Siddaramaiah wanted as an assertion of his authority and a signal that he intends to complete his full term
Inside the party however Shivakumar’s claim to the top post is seen as uncertain, he enjoys strong support from the influential Vokkaliga community whose votes he successfully drew away from the Janata Dal Secular in 2023, religious leaders and Vokkaliga associations have publicly backed him and urged Siddaramaiah to honour the power transition agreement or face statewide protests, but this support is still not enough to guarantee a leadership change
In Delhi Mallikarjun Kharge has reportedly asked Rahul Gandhi to put an end to the ongoing conflict before the winter session of the Karnataka Assembly begins on December 8, sources say Kharge fears a divided Congress could hand the Bharatiya Janata Party an opportunity to weaken the government and potentially topple it, losing Karnataka would further damage the party’s standing given it currently holds power outright in only three states
However Kharge’s warning might have come too late, the BJP has already prepared a strategy to move a no confidence motion against the Congress government, senior BJP leader Sunil Kumar said discussions have been held with opposition leader R Ashok and others to bring forward the motion, arguing that the Congress is distracted and divided
The BJP has been targeting the ruling party repeatedly, claiming the Congress has lost public confidence, leaders within the opposition say that despite the party winning a clear majority last year its internal conflict shows a lack of direction and unity
In recent days Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar have exchanged subtle jabs in public, though both have been cautious not to escalate tensions, on Thursday the rivalry surfaced more openly when Shivakumar spoke about “word power” being “world power” a reference to the power sharing deal, Siddaramaiah responded on X saying that a word means nothing unless it improves the world for the people, he further asserted that the Congress’ five year mandate was given to him and not to any temporary arrangement
The Congress now faces a difficult decision as the tension grows, either it resolves the issue with a clear choice between the two leaders or finds a compromise that prevents a full blown crisis, one option being discussed is the idea of an interim Chief Minister possibly Home Minister G Parameshwara as a balancing solution
Siddaramaiah is determined to remain in office and has no plans to resign voluntarily especially as he is close to becoming the longest serving Chief Minister of Karnataka, Shivakumar on the other hand wants a clear roadmap that guarantees his eventual elevation to the Chief Minister’s post
