The Deal, the Deadline And Some 'Nataka': Karnataka's CM Power Tussle Explained

Karnataka Congress' long-simmering leadership battle has reached a critical point, with the party high command expected to intervene soon - possibly as early as this weekend. What began as quiet murmurs

around a supposed 2.5-year power-sharing promise between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has now erupted into an open, intense struggle that has mobilised MLAs, religious leaders, and senior ministers on both sides.While the Congress leadership has maintained that the dispute will be resolved "at the right time", the growing public sparring, back-channel negotiations, and waves of MLAs heading to Delhi have made it clear that the crisis is no longer containable within party walls.Below is a detailed breakdown of how the friction began, what led to the escalation, and where the Congress stands today.

How the Rift Began: The 2.5-Year FormulaThe seeds of the power clash were sown in May 2023, when the Congress swept to power and both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar fiercely competed for the chief minister’s post. After days of negotiations, Siddaramaiah was chosen CM, while Shivakumar became deputy CM and Karnataka Congress president.Reports at the time suggested a "rotational CM" deal - Siddaramaiah would lead for the first 2.5 years, followed by Shivakumar for the remaining term. The agreement was never formally confirmed by the Congress, but it remained an open secret in political circles.Once the government crossed its halfway mark on November 20 this year, the unspoken deal resurfaced, this time loudly.

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Shivakumar Signals His Claim and Then Steps BackAs pressure from his supporters increased, DK Shivakumar initially made cryptic statements pointing to a behind-the-scenes arrangement. He said there was a "secret deal between 5-6 of us" regarding power sharing and claimed that "word power is world power". He later softened his stance, saying he was not in a hurry and would abide by whatever the Congress leadership decides."I don’t want anything. I am not in a hurry. My party will take a decision," he said on Friday, even as he acknowledged he would be travelling to Delhi soon. Calling the national capital "our temple", he said that Congress leadership dictates the direction of the party."Delhi is our temple. All of us have to go. Without Delhi, nothing can happen. Congress is a party with a long history, and it has always guided us," he said, adding the Congress leadership decides party policy, and that both he and the CM (Siddaramaiah) would go to Delhi whenever called.Shivakumar also rejected caste interpretations of the leadership battle, saying he belonged only to the "Congress community", despite strong backing from Vokkaliga seers and the Karnataka Rajya Vokkaligara Sangha.Siddaramaiah Pushes Back PubliclyChief Minister Siddaramaiah, who has served more than 7.5 years as CM over two terms, has not minced words. He has repeatedly placed responsibility on the Congress high command to end the "confusion" and has insisted he was elected by a majority in the Congress Legislature Party."The mandate given by the people of Karnataka is not a moment, but a responsibility that lasts five full years," he said in a recent post on X, signalling his intention to complete the term. Siddaramaiah also underlined his position when he stated he would present the next state budget as well.Ministers Take Sides, Pressure MountsThe crisis has pushed several Congress ministers and MLAs into taking open positions. Minister Satish Jarkiholi said the CM has asked the high command to clear the air, thereby showing his support for his leadership.Senior MLA Basavaraja Rayareddy, Siddaramaiah’s economic adviser, insisted that the CM will complete his five-year term and questioned why he should be replaced: “Is he corrupt or anti-people?”Minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan reiterated that Siddaramaiah will remain CM till 2028.Several Siddaramaiah loyalists argue that no party decision was ever communicated about giving up the CM post midway. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKU9GVj45Nw Support for ShivakumarShivakumar enjoys strong backing from a section of MLAs who have been travelling to Delhi seeking an audience with party leadership. The public support he received from Vokkaliga institutions further boosted his position. However, Shivakumar has avoided making a direct claim, saying he will not embarrass the party or speak publicly about internal understandings.High Command Maintains a Measured SilenceCongress president Mallikarjun Kharge, when asked about the CM change, said the issue would be decided only after discussions with Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.“This is not a subject to be discussed publicly,” Kharge said, adding that the leadership will take a call at the right time.Delhi Meetings Loom LargeThere is growing anticipation that the Congress high command will summon both leaders to Delhi soon to resolve the issue. Some MLAs backing Shivakumar have already positioned themselves in the capital.Shivakumar said he would travel to Delhi partly because the winter session of Parliament begins on December 1 and he plans to meet MPs regarding issues such as Mekedatu and agricultural price crashes.But the political purpose of the visit is unmistakable.The Exchange on X between Sidda and DKSMeanwhile, A brief social media exchange added fuel to the crisis. Shivakumar posted, "Word power is world power," suggesting that promises must be honoured. Siddaramaiah replied that "a word is not power unless it betters the world for the people," subtly asserting that governance outweighs political deals.The public nature of these exchanges made the rift harder to downplay.Opposition BJP Steps InThe BJP has seized the moment, calling the Congress government unstable and urging Siddaramaiah to resign if the party cannot settle internal leadership issues before the Belagavi winter session. "They should resign and declare an election if they are unable to handle the situation," Karnataka BJP president BY Vijayendra said.Despite the visible tension, Shivakumar has repeatedly said the party is united and is focused on the 2028 Assembly and 2029 Lok Sabha elections.He insisted, "There are no groups in the party; there is only one group - Congress. Our group has 140 MLAs."What Happens Next?The Congress leadership will likely have to address several critical questions--Was there truly a formal or informal 2.5-year power-sharing deal?-Is the party prepared to replace a popular CM mid-term?-Will Shivakumar accept another compromise formula?-Can the high command assert its authority without alienating either faction?For now, both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar insist they will abide by the high command's decision.