To address the growing tension, the Congress high command has stepped in. Party General Secretary and state in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala has been sent to Bengaluru to meet MLAs and senior leaders to gather feedback. His visit is being seen as more than just an organisational review — possibly a step towards a leadership change or cabinet reshuffle.
Power-sharing agreement: Claim vs denial
Shivakumar’s supporters claim that when the Congress government was formed in 2023, an internal agreement on power-sharing was made. Siddaramaiah would be CM for 2.5 years, followed by Shivakumar. If the timeline is followed, Shivakumar is expected to take over in October 2025.
The Siddaramaiah camp has, however, denied any such deal and called it a myth. His supporters argued that Siddaramaiah is the party’s most influential OBC leader, and removing him mid-term could hurt Congress both socially and politically.
OBC Advisory Council a strategic move?
Adding to the political undercurrents, the Congress recently formed an OBC Advisory Council, with its first meeting scheduled on July 15 in Bengaluru. This meeting is being hosted by Siddaramaiah, seen as a strategic move to consolidate his position.
Growing discontent among MLAs
Surjewala’s visit assumes significance amid increasing dissatisfaction within the party. Some MLAs have openly complained about the uneven allocation of development funds. The high command is concerned that unresolved issues could weaken both the government and the party organisation.
Kharge’s statement sparks speculation
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has added fuel to the fire. While he did not announce any leadership change, his comment — “No one knows what the high command is thinking” — has been interpreted differently by both camps.
Shivakumar’s camp sees it as a positive hint while Siddaramaiah’s camp dismisses it as speculation.
Surjewala meets MLAs one-on-one
Surjewala claims his visit is part of a routine organisational review. However, he has been holding private meetings with each MLA. These discussions are covering topics like:
- Progress on the five guarantee schemes
- Infrastructure development
- Party organisation issues
Many believe these meetings are laying the groundwork for a possible reshuffle in the government or party leadership.
‘Political Revolution’ hinted after September
Speculations intensified when Cooperation Minister KN Rajanna, a Siddaramaiah loyalist, said that “politically revolutionary changes” could occur after September. He also hinted that Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi might become the next Karnataka Congress president — potentially replacing Shivakumar and weakening his political hold.
Congress split into two camps
The Karnataka Congress is now clearly split:
- One camp supports Siddaramaiah as CM.
- The other wants Shivakumar to get his turn.
Siddaramaiah has strong social support, especially among OBC communities. Shivakumar, on the other hand, wields organisational and financial control within the party.
This internal divide was partly blamed for the poor performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in the state.
National impact and civic polls ahead
With civic polls like the BBMP (Bengaluru civic) elections approaching, the Congress needs to show unity. Instability in Karnataka could hurt the party’s image nationally — especially when it tries to present itself as a strong opposition.
Temporary calm, but the storm may return
For now, the Congress high command has denied any leadership change. But the ongoing tension suggests the conflict is not resolved. This power struggle could either lead to a compromise or an open rebellion in the coming months.
