New Delhi: The Congress is grappling with a growing leadership crisis in Karnataka as tensions intensify between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy D.K. Shivakumar. The party high command now finds itself under pressure to manage loyalties and avert a potentially destabilising split.
The tension traces back to the 2023 Assembly elections, when the party’s victory was powered by Siddaramaiah’s leadership and Shivakumar’s organisational acumen. At the time, an informal understanding was said to be in place: Siddaramaiah would serve as Chief Minister for half of the five-year term, then hand over to Shivakumar for the remaining 2.5 years. That half-term was reached by November 2025 — prompting renewed demands from Shivakumar’s camp for a transition. Meanwhile, Siddaramaiah’s supporters are pushing to complete the full tenure.
Observers draw parallels with the past leadership conflict in Rajasthan between then-Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his deputy Sachin Pilot, which eventually triggered a rebellion and brought instability to the state’s Congress government. In other states too, internal struggles within Congress have eroded its position and electoral prospects.
In Karnataka, the dynamics are shaped by socio-political and caste factors. Siddaramaiah draws his strength from the coalition of minorities, backward classes, and Dalits (often referred to as AHINDA), and enjoys strong support among rural and marginalized populations. His welfare initiatives — including free rice distribution and social programmes — have reinforced his standing as a leader of the masses.
Conversely, Shivakumar represents the influential Vokkaliga agrarian caste and is considered the party’s financial and organisational backbone. With substantial resources, business interests and ability to mobilise support, he has historically managed campaign funding and crisis response — giving him leverage with the leadership.
Promoting Shivakumar as Chief Minister may consolidate the Vokkaliga vote, but could also alienate other key constituencies such as Dalits, Muslims and OBCs. His reputation for wealth- and network-driven politics may not resonate with the economically weaker segments.
The open rivalry and lobbying by MLAs from both camps have already dented the party’s image, creating a perception of instability. Though Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has acknowledged the crisis and promised intervention, reports suggest indecision at the top. Despite a request from Shivakumar for a meeting, senior leader Rahul Gandhi reportedly asked him to wait. While Shivakumar publicly says he is “not in a hurry,” his supporters are stepping up pressure, invoking the alleged mid-term pact.
With Karnataka being perhaps the Congress’s strongest current bastion amid broader setbacks elsewhere, a split here could severely damage the party’s national standing.
According to insiders, the high command is expected to call both leaders to Delhi soon, with Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi likely to mediate. A mid-term change might appease Shivakumar’s faction, but risks eroding Siddaramaiah’s support among the party’s core base. Exploring a neutral “third name” or temporary CM could further undermine Congress’s mass appeal.
At present, the Congress leadership faces a delicate balancing act — trying to reconcile competing ambitions and caste-based political equations while aiming to preserve party unity.
