Bengaluru: As the Congress government in Karnataka marked its second anniversary with a grand rally in Hospet on Tuesday, an internal power tussle has cast a shadow over the celebrations. The “Samarpan Sankalp – 2025” rally, attended by AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and senior party leaders, was meant to project unity. Instead, it has exposed renewed friction within the party.
Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who played a key role in Congress’ 2023 victory, has once again staked his claim to the Chief Minister’s post. Having submitted a list of 86 MLAs supporting him to Kharge, K.C. Venugopal and Rahul Gandhi, Shivakumar warned this may be his final shot at the top job. He reportedly threatened to reconsider his future in the party if overlooked again. However, CM Siddaramaiah’s camp is resisting any leadership change. They are instead backing PWD Minister Sathish Jarkiholi—also from a backward community—as a potential successor if a transition becomes inevitable.
Jarkihole, in turn, has warned he would quit if Shivakumar were elevated. While the Congress high command had verbally promised to consider a power-sharing formula after two years, it has since gone silent on the issue. The Siddaramaiah camp has made it clear they will oppose Shivakumar’s promotion. Adding to the drama, Shivakumar’s recent meetings with top BJP leaders in Delhi—including Union Ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, and Bhupender Yadav—have raised eyebrows.
These signals come at a time when the BJP is disillusioned with its own Karnataka unit and may be open to poaching influential Congress leaders. With Congress in Karnataka veering towards a possible implosion, the BJP is silently watching—ready to capitalise on the chaos.
.jpg)
