Bangalore, political tension has reached a boiling point within the state’s ruling Congress party, as a leadership tussle between Siddaramaiah and his deputy, D.K. Shivakumar, intensifies. The row has revived speculation of a power-sharing agreement, allegedly made in 2023, which claimed that Shivakumar would succeed Siddaramaiah after the government completed 2.5 years.
Shivakumar’s supporters have grown increasingly vocal, with several MLAs flying to Delhi to press their case before the party’s national leadership. Meanwhile, Shivakumar himself has spoken of a “secret deal” involving a handful of leaders, though he declined to publicly disclose details.
On the other side, Siddaramaiah has urged the party’s high command to “put a full stop to this confusion,” insisting that only they can resolve the matter. He stressed that he remains committed to completing the full five-year term, and said he will abide by whatever decision the central leadership makes.
The crisis has deepened further as more leaders toss their hats into the ring. State Home Minister G. Parameshwara has now publicly indicated his ambition for the top job, turning what seemed like a two-person standoff into a broader scramble for power.
With the high command yet to clearly side with any camp, internal paralysis has begun to show. Moreover, critics argue that governance is increasingly taking a backseat to political maneuvering. In addition, some warn that continued infighting could erode public trust; consequently, the opposition now eyes a major opening. Ultimately, unless consensus emerges, the stalemate may deepen further, thereby weakening the institution’s credibility at a critical moment.
At this critical moment, all eyes are on the national leadership of the Congress. Whatever decision they make — whether to back Siddaramaiah or facilitate a transition will likely decide not just who runs Karnataka, but also how the party fares in future elections.
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