Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has reportedly sought a meeting with Congress MP Rahul Gandhi to obtain clarity on the ongoing leadership speculation in the state, telling party leaders that there was “constant confusion” surrounding the issue, sources told India Today TV. According to the sources, Siddaramaiah also conveyed his desire to expand his cabinet and wanted direct guidance from the Congress leadership amid persistent rumours of a possible change at the top.
This development comes against the backdrop of continued speculation about internal tensions within the Congress-led government in Karnataka, despite repeated assertions by the party’s central leadership that there is no crisis. While the government has maintained stability on the surface, recurring reports and political chatter about a power struggle have kept the issue alive in public discourse.
Last month, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge attempted to quell the rumours by firmly stating that there was no confusion at the level of the party high command. He stressed that the central leadership had not created any uncertainty and said that any concerns or misunderstandings should be addressed and resolved by the state leadership itself. Kharge also cautioned party leaders against projecting the Congress’ electoral victory in Karnataka as an individual achievement, underlining that the party’s success was the result of collective effort by its workers over many decades.
Both Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar have consistently rejected claims of discord between them. Siddaramaiah has repeatedly said that he enjoys the full confidence of the Congress leadership and will complete his entire term as Chief Minister, firmly dismissing speculation about any rotational chief minister formula. Shivakumar, meanwhile, has described reports of rifts as baseless media speculation and opposition-driven narratives, insisting that there are no differences between him and the Chief Minister.
Shivakumar has publicly stated that he and Siddaramaiah are working together harmoniously and that he harbours no grievances against any Congress leader. He has emphasised that the party leadership would take decisions at the appropriate time and that both he and the Chief Minister would abide by whatever decision the high command makes. He has also said that factionalism does not come naturally to him and reaffirmed that Siddaramaiah would complete his full tenure.
The leadership debate largely revolves around claims of an internal understanding that Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar would share the Chief Minister’s post for 2.5 years each. Siddaramaiah took oath on May 20, 2023, and speculation suggested that a change in leadership could occur around November last year, when the government crossed the halfway mark of its term. When no such change materialised, some legislators believed to be close to Shivakumar reportedly travelled to Delhi to press their case, fuelling further rumours.
The Congress, however, has categorically denied the existence of any agreement to share power and has repeatedly maintained that Siddaramaiah would serve a full five-year term. Responding to the visits by MLAs to Delhi, Shivakumar said it was natural for legislators to approach the party leadership, particularly ahead of a possible cabinet reshuffle, and insisted that such meetings should not be interpreted as signs of rebellion or internal division.
Meanwhile, the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party has continued to target the Congress leadership in Karnataka, alleging that Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar are engaged in a constant power struggle over the Chief Minister’s post. The BJP has claimed that this alleged tussle has distracted the government from focusing fully on governance and public administration, keeping the leadership issue in the political spotlight.
