Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar in the annual general meeting of the Krishna Bhagya Jala Nigam Board of Directors and all-member session held at Vidhana Soudha
Deputy Chief Minister and KPCC President D.K. Shivakumar declined to comment on speculation around a change in leadership, asserting the party has appointed him as Deputy CM and that remains his sole focus. He added there has been no discussion with the Congress High Command on any leadership change, even as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s meeting with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge in Delhi on July 10 fueled fresh speculation.
Stating that the party had given him organisational responsibilities and the post of DCM, Shivakumar on Friday reiterated that his focus was on protecting the interests of the party and the government.
Speaking to reporters at the KPCC office, he said, “I will not comment on the topic of leadership change. I am focused on fulfilling the responsibilities given by the party. Mallikarjun Kharge has given me ‘dheekshe’ and I have accepted it happily.”
Siddaramiah, on Wednesday, also dismissed speculation over a leadership change, saying there is no room for such assumptions. “There is no vacancy for the Chief Minister’s post. I am the CM,” he asserted at a press conference in Delhi.
No formal agreement
He also clarified there was no formal agreement regarding the transfer of power, with the party high command stating such decisions must be approved by both the CM and DCM.
A BJP spokesperson echoed this view, stating, that as long as Siddaramaiah leads the party, it’s unlikely that D K Shivakumar will get the top post.
Referring to the CM’s remark that Shivakumar lacks legislative backing, he added, “That was a direct insult. Shivakumar has lost all moral authority to continue as Deputy CM.”
As speculation over a change in leadership continues to swirl in Karnataka, political observers warn that persistent talk of a power shift could harm the ruling Congress government’s reputation.
“Compared to Siddaramaiah’s past term and the BJP years, this government is not doing badly. Yet, the impression is it’s not doing anything because of constant reports about someone eyeing the CM’s seat and internal tussles,” said Dr. A. Narayana, a political analyst.
Political dissidence is not new to Karnataka. Senior leaders have previously challenged incumbent CMs, often due to loss of majority support. “But this time, the pressure stems from an alleged pact made in 2023, not because the Chief Minister has lost the confidence of the MLAs,” he noted.
Historically, Congress has not been immune to infighting. Between 1989 and 1994, the party saw three Chief Ministers — Virendra Patil, S. Bangarappa, and finally M. Veerappa Moily — each change prompted by factional dissent and high command intervention. In most cases, MLA support was grudgingly aligned following decisions made in Delhi.
Yet, the Congress in Karnataka under leaders like S.M. Krishna (1999–2004) and Siddaramaiah (2013–2018) had relatively stable tenures, free from such turbulence.
In contrast, today’s situation is rooted more in speculation and internal expectations. “If the Deputy Chief Minister and his supporters stay patient and allow the high command to decide, there will be no damage to the party’s image. But if this issue keeps playing out in public, it will hurt both the Congress and the state,” the analyst cautioned.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Chief Minister may retain his hope that the party will someday vote in his favour, he said.
Published on July 11, 2025