Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is unhappy with the growing talk about a leadership change within the Congress. He believes that the visits of MLAs loyal to Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar to Delhi are harming the image of the government. Siddaramaiah shared these concerns directly with AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, saying that repeated discussions about replacing him were damaging both the state government and the party nationally. Kharge has assured him that he will review the situation and try to resolve the tension.
Meanwhile, the BJP is using this internal conflict to push its “November revolution” narrative. The party claims the Congress government will not survive beyond November. Karnataka Leader of Opposition R Ashok has attacked the government, calling it disorganised and accusing it of failing on law and order. He pointed to a recent ₹7 crore daylight robbery as proof of the government’s weakness.
Inside the Congress, the tension is mainly between two power centres—Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar. The situation escalated when supporters of Shivakumar planned to take a 15-member delegation to Delhi, hoping to meet Sonia and Rahul Gandhi. They claim there was an “unwritten promise” that Shivakumar would become Chief Minister after two and a half years. With rumours of a cabinet reshuffle, speculation about a leadership change grew even stronger.
Siddaramaiah’s faction, however, insists that most MLAs and senior leaders still support him. They believe that if the Chief Minister is allowed to choose his own ministers during the reshuffle, it will show that he will continue for the full five-year term. Siddaramaiah himself said that everyone must follow the high command’s decision and confirmed that he will present the next state Budget.
Shivakumar, on the other hand, has taken a calm public stance. He said he does not indulge in group politics and that all 140 Congress MLAs are his responsibility. He explained that the cabinet reshuffle discussions caused MLAs to visit Delhi and maintained that he will work with Siddaramaiah for the full term.
With tensions rising, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge is expected to intervene. Senior leaders say both camps have been warned not to make public statements that may harm the party. The high command believes that the BJP and a section of the media are trying to spread misinformation to weaken the government. The final decision on the matter now rests with the leadership in Delhi.
