BENGALURU A fierce power struggle has erupted within the ruling party in Karnataka, as supporters of deputy chief minister D. K. Shivakumar demand that the party honour a purported 2023 agreement handing over the chief minister’s post mid‑term. With the government crossing the halfway mark of its five-year term, pressure is mounting on current chief minister Siddaramaiah to step down and pave the way for a leadership change.
The alleged pact had reportedly promised the top job to Shivakumar after the first 2.5 years of the current tenure a deal many backers describe as an “understanding among senior leaders.” As the deadline passed, a delegation of Shivakumar‑aligned MLAs travelled to New Delhi to press their demand before the national leadership of Indian National Congress.
But Siddaramaiah remains defiant. He insists he intends to complete the full five‑year term, arguing no formal agreement dictates a rotational change. The party high command has yet to make any official statement, but has asked both factions to await a decision while maintaining internal discipline.
Supporters of Shivakumar argue his leadership will pay respect to prior commitments, and some community leaders including a prominent seer from the Vokkaliga community have publicly backed him for the top post, citing his long tenure and loyalty to the party. Meanwhile, backers of Siddaramaiah including the influential AHINDA vote‑bank have warned that ousting him mid-term could alienate minority and backward‑class communities, potentially harming the party’s social coalition.
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