The long-running power tussle within Karnataka Congress appears to be nearing its conclusion, with the party high command reportedly throwing its weight behind Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar for the state’s top post. Sources quoted by NDTV indicated that the Congress leadership has reached a broad consensus in favour of a transition, potentially ending months of speculation and internal friction over succession plans in the state.
According to sources, Chief Minister DK Shivakumar’s path to the chief ministership received unanimous backing from the Congress central leadership during high-level discussions. As part of the reported transition formula, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has allegedly been offered a Rajya Sabha berth along with a larger role at the national level from Delhi. However, sources said Siddaramaiah has sought some time before taking a final call on the proposal.
Despite that, indications suggest that a leadership change may happen sooner rather than later. Siddaramaiah’s resignation is expected within the next two or three days, sources added, signalling that the political reshuffle could be imminent.
“The entire high command was for transition to DK Shivakumar,” sources were quoted as saying, suggesting that the central leadership had moved decisively on the issue.
Interestingly, the Congress leadership publicly attempted to downplay speculation following a marathon six-hour meeting held earlier in the day. The party maintained that discussions were focused solely on upcoming Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council elections.
“Discussions were held regarding the Rajya Sabha and MLC elections. There is no truth to any other speculation,” Congress General Secretary K. C. Venugopal said in a brief statement to the media.
The question of leadership in Karnataka has remained one of the Congress party’s most closely watched internal issues since its emphatic victory in the 2023 Assembly elections. Rumours of a power-sharing arrangement have persisted for over a year, with Shivakumar’s supporters repeatedly asserting that the party leadership had promised a rotational chief ministership formula when government formation talks were underway.
Shivakumar, one of the Congress’s most influential faces in Karnataka and a key strategist behind the party’s 2023 electoral success, had initially been among the frontrunners for the chief minister’s post. Sources claim he accepted the Deputy Chief Minister’s position only after receiving assurances that he would assume the state’s top office after roughly two-and-a-half years.
If the reported transition materialises, it would mark the culmination of one of the Congress party’s most delicate balancing acts — managing competing ambitions while attempting to preserve unity in one of its most important states.
