Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar has dismissed speculation about lobbying for the chief minister’s post, clarifying that his recent visit to Delhi was purely personal and not politically motivated. His statement comes amid renewed discussions in Karnataka’s political circles about a potential leadership change and cabinet reshuffle within the Congress government. D K Shivakumar reiterated his commitment to follow Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s lead and the directives of the Congress high command, emphasizing unity within the party at a time when internal speculations are running high.
Speaking to reporters, D K Shivakumar said, “What is left to be said after the Chief Minister’s statement? We follow his word.” His comment referred to Siddaramaiah’s recent assertion that he would complete his full five-year term if approved by the Congress high command. This assurance from both leaders appears to be a coordinated attempt to project stability in the face of growing political chatter suggesting friction between the top two leaders of the Karnataka government.
D K Shivakumar clarified that his trip to Delhi had nothing to do with party politics or meetings with Congress leaders. “I went to pay my condolences to Congress Working Committee member Ambika Soni after the demise of her husband,” he said. “She had come with Sonia Gandhiji to visit me when I was in Tihar jail, and she treats me like a younger brother. The public and media can discuss anything about my meeting with the high command; it doesn’t concern me.” His statement appeared to be a direct response to rumors that he had gone to the national capital to discuss internal power-sharing issues or press for a change in leadership.
Leadership Change Talk Resurfaces in Karnataka Congress
D K Shivakumar’s clarification came as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah reiterated in Mangaluru that any decision regarding cabinet reshuffles or leadership changes would be made solely by the Congress high command. “If the high command decides, I will complete my term,” Siddaramaiah said, maintaining that he remained committed to the party’s decision-making process.
Echoing this stance, Home Minister G Parameshwara, considered a close ally of Siddaramaiah, said the Congress central leadership alone would determine any leadership or cabinet change. “Until and unless the party high command indicates, nobody knows, and the statements coming from legislators are irrelevant,” he said, dismissing the ongoing speculations as mere political noise.
Parameshwara added that clarity on the leadership issue might emerge only after the Bihar election results, suggesting that both Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar were expected to meet the Congress leadership in Delhi thereafter. “At this moment, I have not heard anything from the high command. I think, after the Bihar election results, both the CM and Deputy CM will be going to Delhi, and something may come up,” he said.
He further clarified that no time frame had been set for Siddaramaiah’s tenure when he was chosen as the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader following the party’s 2023 Assembly election victory. “We were not told then that Siddaramaiah would be Chief Minister for only two-and-a-half years. The party high command did not fix any time frame,” Parameshwara explained. “If the high command decides otherwise, we will accept it.”
The home minister also urged the Congress central leadership to end the growing uncertainty over the issue. “Siddaramaiah has said that he will remain CM for five years if the high command agrees. The high command must put an end to this confusion. They are aware of it. If needed, I too will request them to clarify,” he added, indicating an undercurrent of unease within the party ranks over persistent rumors of a leadership transition.
Meanwhile, speculation of what some party insiders have dubbed the “November revolution” — a term circulating in political circles referring to a possible power shift within the Karnataka Congress — has intensified as the government approaches the halfway mark of its five-year term. These discussions have largely centered around the question of whether a rotation arrangement was agreed upon when Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar were chosen to lead the state government after the Congress’s landslide victory last year.
Dalit CM Demand and the BJP’s Political Counter
The talk of leadership change has also brought renewed attention to the demand for a Dalit chief minister. When asked about this possibility, Parameshwara said, “Is it wrong to make such a demand? If it is wrong, let us respond to it. People express their opinions.” He added that the Congress had several capable leaders who could lead the state, but reiterated that the final decision rested solely with the party high command. His statement reflected a careful balance between acknowledging aspirations within the party and affirming loyalty to the Congress’s central decision-making authority.
Social Welfare Minister H C Mahadevappa, another senior Congress leader, met with Parameshwara recently but denied that their meeting was political in nature. “The meeting was not related to politics; it was about funding for a cooperative in Tumakuru,” Mahadevappa said. When asked about speculation regarding a power-sharing agreement between Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar, Mahadevappa dismissed it as baseless. “Has the CM said he will share power? He has said that if the high command decides, he will be CM for five years. The rest is speculation, and one cannot respond to speculation.”
Despite these denials, political observers suggest that factional undercurrents within the Karnataka Congress are real and have been simmering since the formation of the government. The delicate balance between Siddaramaiah’s mass appeal and D K Shivakumar’s organizational strength continues to define the party’s internal dynamics. Both leaders have been careful to publicly project unity, but the recurring reports of behind-the-scenes lobbying have kept the leadership debate alive.
Adding to the political noise, Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) predicted that a change in leadership within the Congress government was inevitable. “What BJP has been saying as the opposition party is true. November revolution is certain, change is definite,” Ashoka said in Bengaluru. His comments were seen as an attempt to exploit the ongoing uncertainty within the Congress ranks to weaken its public image and project instability in the state administration.
Political analysts note that the BJP’s renewed focus on Karnataka comes at a time when the Congress is battling to maintain unity ahead of key state and national elections. Any sign of division within the ruling party could offer the opposition ammunition to question its governance and internal cohesion.
For now, both Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar appear to be aligned publicly, reiterating their trust in the Congress high command’s decision-making process. However, the undercurrent of political maneuvering, particularly as the government completes two-and-a-half years in office, suggests that the coming months could be crucial in shaping Karnataka’s political landscape. Whether the so-called “November revolution” materializes or remains just political chatter will depend largely on the Congress high command’s assessment of stability, performance, and the balance of power within the state unit.
