NEW DELHI: Amid the ongoing power struggle between Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy, DK Shivakumar, calls have emerged from the Congress high command to resolve the apparent rift. Following the high command’s prompting, Siddaramaiah has invited Shivakumar for a breakfast meeting. Amid the ongoing tussle between Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar over the chief ministerial post, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar today stated that he wants nothing and is in no hurry. “Party workers may be eager, but I am in no hurry.
The party will make all decisions,” DK Shivakumar told reporters.
The party’s southern strongman, credited with the 2023 victory, has taken turns urging his cadre and leaders to focus on the next election, in the fight for the chief ministership. MLAs supporting Shivakumar as Chief Minister in place of Siddaramaiah have demanded that Siddaramaiah honor the “deal” reached after the 2023 assembly elections, which was struck because both wanted the top post and stipulated a 2.5-year term for each.That halfway point came and went last week, but there was no sign of Siddaramaiah backing down or implementing any of the party’s “deal.”
Consequently, over the past week, Shivakumar and his supporters have reminded the Chief Minister, his camp, and the Congress leadership of the need to relinquish power. So far, Siddaramaiah has not bowed to pressure, including petitioning party boss Mallikarjun Kharge, a supporter of the DKS, in Delhi. However, he has acknowledged “confusion” within the ranks and has asked the party’s core leadership to “completely eliminate” it. On Thursday, Shivakumar wrote on X, “Staying true to your word is the greatest power in the world! The power of words is the power of the world… The greatest power in the world is staying true to your word.” He wrote, “Be it a judge, a president, or anyone else, even me, everyone has to walk the talk. The power of words is the power of the world.” This seemed to remind the Congress high command of a rumored power-sharing agreement in 2023, when both Siddaramaiah and he were eyeing the chief minister’s post after the party won the state elections. Siddaramaiah responded soon after with a strange post of his own: “A word is not power unless it makes the world a better place for the people.”
His post read, “The mandate given by the people of Karnataka is not a moment, but a responsibility that lasts for five years,” which was seen as a direct attack on Shivakumar. According to sources, the exchange of words on social media also did not sit well with the party’s top managers. Both leaders have now been asked to meet together before any meetings in Delhi in the coming days. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister said the high command has asked him to meet Shivakumar to discuss the issue. “So, I have called him (Shivakumar) for a breakfast meeting. When he comes for breakfast, we will discuss it, because we will listen to whatever the high command says. I will say this today and tomorrow as well,” he said. “If they want us to come, we will go to Delhi as well.”
In 2023, there were reports that an agreement had been reached based on a “rotational chief minister formula,” according to which Shivakumar would become chief minister after 2.5 years, but the party has not officially confirmed this. Rumors intensified this month as the Congress government in the state reached the halfway point of its five-year term on November 20. Public statements from various leaders, caste groups, and religious figures have turned these rumors into a full-blown power struggle.

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