A fresh attempt to ease tensions inside the Karnataka Congress unfolded on Tuesday night, when Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar held an unscheduled, late-night meeting with Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi. Both leaders abruptly cancelled their official engagements and met at a confidential location, signalling the seriousness of the discussions.
Jarkiholi, long regarded as one of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s most influential loyalists and a counterweight to Shivakumar within the party, is said to have approached the meeting with the intention of reducing friction rather than escalating the rift. Conversations between the two reportedly continued well past midnight.
According to sources close to the Deputy Chief Minister, Shivakumar reiterated that there was a clear understanding reached in May 2023 — in the presence of five to six top Congress leaders — that Siddaramaiah would hand over the Chief Ministership to him after 2.5 years. He is said to have stressed that the commitment has not been honoured and the delay has triggered growing frustration within his camp.
Jarkiholi, sources say, maintained that his primary responsibility at this moment was to stand firmly with Siddaramaiah. However, he also clarified that if the Congress High Command explicitly directs Siddaramaiah to step down, both he and the Chief Minister would respect the instruction. He reportedly indicated that a clear announcement from Delhi — either affirming or denying the power-sharing pact — would end the prevailing confusion and bring stability.
The meeting is also believed to have gone beyond immediate hostilities. Both leaders discussed the party’s long-term roadmap for the 2028 and 2029 elections, the role of backwards-class consolidation, and the eventual post-Siddaramaiah transition. Jarkiholi’s emergence as a major OBC figure and Shivakumar’s leadership aspirations were central to the conversation, insiders say.
The timing of the meeting is significant. Earlier in the day, Shivakumar fuelled speculation by saying that “secret talks” were underway since the May 2023 election result. Meanwhile, a group of ministers and MLAs backing Shivakumar has already reached Delhi to push the Congress leadership to enforce what they insist was a 2.5-year rotational Chief Ministership agreement.
With the leadership question expected to be addressed before the Parliament session on December 1, the late-night meeting marks the latest manoeuvre in the escalating battle between the Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar factions — a contest that has now become the central fault line inside the Karnataka Congress.
