Tensions within Karnataka Congress have been growing since the government crossed the midpoint of its five-year term. A faction of MLAs aligned with DK Shivakumar have pressed for implementation of what they describe as a 2023 power-sharing agreement, under which Shivakumar was to succeed the current Siddaramaiah as chief minister halfway through the term. The group reportedly travelled to New Delhi to press their demand on the party high command.
Shivakumar has publicly stated that he is “not in a hurry” to assume the top post and denied holding any discussions with senior party leadership on the matter. Siddaramaiah, for his part, has appealed to the high command to resolve the confusion surrounding the leadership question, noting that any decision must come from the central leadership.
Several developments have fuelled speculation about a potential shift. Late-night meetings between Shivakumar and senior ministers, along with delegations of MLAs supporting him, have added pressure. Observers highlight that the power struggle marks one of the most visible internal rifts the party has faced since it came to power.
Despite the upheaval, Priyank Kharge dismissed the whispers as mostly media hype, urging restraint and calling attention to the party’s established practise of deferring such decisions to the national leadership. “Unnecessary speculation is not necessary,” he said after meeting Shivakumar, arguing the ambiguity exists more in media portrayal than within the party.