Siddaramaiah vs DK Shivakumar? Karnataka Congress Power Struggle Deepens

Added: 2026-05-26

[00:00:06]But moving on to the world of politics now, the Siddaramaiah government in Karnataka has completed 3 years in office today. In the midst of all this, the Chief Minister's chair tussle has only intensified in the state. This is the old Karnataka leadership war that's once again threatening to become a challenge for the National Congress leadership in New Delhi, even as the party has just coordinated its Chief Minister in Kerala. Now, in the latest Karnataka Chief Minister Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has issued a statement saying that he will go down to Delhi once the high command calls, and he has also said that it was a top brass that would make the final call soon.

[00:00:40]Meanwhile, the Chief Minister of the state, Siddaramaiah, has also wanted a rejig in the cabinet soon. He's also hoping to meet the national leaders leadership uh shortly is what we heard.

[00:00:49]A request has already been made. Now, a big NDTV scoop has revealed that in the midst of this tussle, D.K. Shivakumar's loyalists will be heading to Delhi to mount pressure on the party high command. Citing the completion of polls, Deputy Chief Minister's loyalists and supporters have argued for the promises that have been made to be fulfilled now.

[00:01:09]Earlier during the Kerala Chief Minister's oath, a key hurdle also took place with regards to the Chief Minister's chair in Karnataka.

[00:01:20]I don't want to discuss anything.

[00:01:21]Whenever our party high command will ask us to go to Delhi, we definitely will go to Delhi because a lot of things are on the Chief Minister's also keeping cards on the interest of the state.

[00:01:34]Now, we are having a discussion on various issues. Our GB election is also been announced by the court uh within 31st August. We'll make this a straight right.

[00:01:44]At this point in time, you see your government has finished 3 years as well.

[00:01:49]We've been saying how that there still remains to be a confusion. You have been a very important leader from the Congress party who's been very vocal about what is the need at this point in time when we talk about the leadership as such as well. Will we be seeing you?

[00:02:01]This is the time that you feel the high command has to put a full stop to the whole of leadership issue that we are seeing here in the state, sir. Is this the time that the deputy CM needs to be given a chance, sir? What is your thought at this point in time? Because your government has finished 3 years.

[00:02:13]You have been quite patient about it.

[00:02:15]You have been the loyal person to be open about your statement as well, sir.

[00:02:20]See, we have already asked the high command to get interfere into the situation and solve the problem as early as possible because Yes. See, we want to face the election 2 years after.

[00:02:31]So, we want this to be solved immediately. What Whatever the decision high command tells, we will follow that.

[00:02:37]But, if they had given any promise to our DCM, it should be fulfilled.

[00:02:43]My cousin Kharge ji and our leader of the opposition Rahul ji Sonia ji has to take a decision in this issue.

[00:02:53]I hope in this end of this month this is going to be settled.

[00:02:59]What will be the result? That is the high command has to take a decision.

[00:03:03]We are expecting.

[00:03:05]But, this matter has to be settled as early as possible.

[00:03:09]Thank you.

[00:03:11]Well, joining us now is B.S. Arun, political analyst and senior journalist.

[00:03:15]Thank you, Mr. Arun, for joining us.

[00:03:17]D.K. Shivakumar's supporters have been pressing for him to take over as the Chief Minister. We know that that's an old story, but with Kerala oath taking done now, is this the latest challenge for the national leadership? And if yes, what do you How do you think the national leadership or the high command is going to look at this fresh issue?

[00:03:35]Well, absolutely. Now, you know, the elections are over, the Chief Ministers have been selected, and now it's up to the Congress high command to decide what should be done about Karnataka. The demands have been rising as you mentioned, loyalists of D.K. Shivakumar would be going to Delhi. So, are the aspirants for the cabinet birth who are generally the supporters of Siddaramaiah. So, you know, there there is a demand from both the both the camps. Shivakumar wants an early very early resolution of this, you know, problem because he had been demanding it for nearly a year now.

[00:04:11]He first demanded that, you know, two and a half after two and a half years of the government taking over there should be change of guard and that has now completed and six months are over beyond that. So, he wants solution now and at the same time the Chief Minister wants a permission for a rejig of his cabinet and that has been also going on for some time.

[00:04:32]>> what kind of rejig does Siddaramaiah want and does he also want this to happen so that it reinforces his position as a Chief Minister because if there's a rejig that's happening or an expansion that's happening, not expansion, maybe a reshuffle that's happening, that means that there will not be any leadership change, isn't it?

[00:04:49]Well, it's it's absolutely that because once the rejig is done, then there is no question of change of leadership and Shivakumar exactly wants that not to happen and once that happens Shivakumar knows that there is no room for him to become the Chief Minister.

[00:05:06]So, in the midst of all this yesterday there was a meeting in which you know, there was luncheon meeting in which DK Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah and Mallikarjun Kharge all took had lunch at the house of Minister KJ George and we don't know what transpired that they were coming back after you know, having a the three years summit Sadhana Samavesha at Tumkur where the government celebrated completion of three years.

[00:05:38]You know, and and there were many announcements that were being made. The land rights, the property rights were given. You know, it was a very successful event. But, after that, you know, the question still remains about various issues the government is faced with. Be it, you know, the developmental programs because so much money has gone to the >> But, Mr. Arun, you know, even as the party continues to delay this call, this decision, will D.K. Shivakumar be okay taking over the reins just months before polls in Karnataka? Will that not be a disadvantage to him as the face? And where is Siddaramaiah in all of this?

[00:06:15]Why is he so insistent on holding on to the Chief Minister's chair? Is it because there was no deal in the first place, or was there a deal? What is the speculation in Karnataka?

[00:06:26]Looks like there was a deal. Otherwise, Shivakumar would not have pressed it so much, so hard over the last 1 year. And he would be happy, certainly. You know, just 2 years doesn't matter to him. What all he wants is the Chief Ministership.

[00:06:40]Whether it's now or even a little later, maybe after 6 months, I'm sure he won't mind. Because once that comes, then he would be sure of leading the party for the next elections also, which is in 2028.

[00:06:54]>> Mr. Arun, do you think V.D. Satheesan's rise to power and becoming the Chief Minister has also, in some ways, must have empowered his own aspirations as well? Because V.D. Satheesan was very clear that it's either the Chief Minister's position or nothing else for him. Is that also something that must be playing on D.K.

[00:07:11]Shivakumar's head?

[00:07:13]I think it's yes and no, because one what you're saying is right, but then there is another issue. That is of, you know, the Siddaramaiah being a backward class leader, and Satheesan was a Nair, I mean, from the forward class. So, Congress has given that, you know, Congress has chosen a forward class man in Kerala. And will it be prepared to backward class person, that too as strong as a person, as a leader of the stature of Siddaramaiah, and keeping it to a forward caste man.

[00:07:46]Although in Karnataka, you know, it's very strange.

[00:07:49]Uh even Vasudha, that is what uh the National Congress must also be thinking.

[00:07:52]The Congress high command must also be wondering about these challenges that Mr. Arun is also talking about because it's not just about leadership change.

[00:07:58]There are ramifications because Siddaramaiah comes from the OBC background. He's, you know, he he is known to consolidate the Ahinda votes behind him, which has also played an important role in Congress party sweeping the state of Karnataka in 2023.

[00:08:11]My colleague Ritu also joins us with more details on this. Ritu, Ritu, help us understand when it comes to the uh you know, the latest uh movements within the Congress party with regard to leadership change. Uh who is being more vocal? Uh is there a difference between D.K. Shivakumar's supporters asking for his elevation now uh compared to what uh they were asking for just a few months ago?

[00:08:34]Well, Vasudha, you see, what's quite interesting for us to observe at this point in time is uh Deputy CM D.K.

[00:08:39]Shivakumar, who has remained to be quite silent about this whole leadership buzz that is on here in the state of Karnataka. In fact, today, after a very long time, he was very vocal about it to state at least a line out there stating that yes, he's been called to Delhi.

[00:08:52]Now, needs to be seen when is that he'll really be called, and he says that whenever there's going to be a call and a date that's going to be given to him, he will be en-routing to Delhi to discuss this whole matter as well. So, needs to be seen when, of course, he's going to be called to Delhi on one side because on the other side, now we just don't have uh the loyalists of D.K.

[00:09:08]Shivakumar who are trying to mount pressure on the high command, but they're also trying to mount this whole pressure on D.K. Shivakumar himself saying that you push your card this time at least because all five state elections are over, the results are all out as well. All the uh you know, states have their own chief ministers now, but this is the time where that the high command really needs to focus on Karnataka as well. Now, there are two things over here that, you know, we will be seeing likely in the coming weeks.

[00:09:30]One, it is about the leadership change where that you have the leaders from both the camps, D.K.'s camp as well as uh Siddaramaiah's camp who are saying that you either give a clarity. That's the question that they are asking to the high command. Say you either give a clarity about this whole leadership change. If you are really not in a situation to change, then at least put this whole matter to an end by putting out that clear statement saying that there's not going to be any sort of a change. And you know, the state is really going to head into a assembly elections with Siddaramaiah being the top leader again. Point number two, it's also about the cabinet reshuffle. You see, because of this whole leadership buzz, this is also taking a backseat for most of the leaders here in Karnataka who are really hoping to become the minister. And lot of them, first time MLAs in fact, who have been quite aspirant about it and being vocal about it to meet high command in Delhi as well, have really not got their clear answer. So, yes, there are two things right now that most, you know, the leaders from both the camp are discussing as It all remains to be seen how the national leadership in in Delhi for the Congress party is going to look at this whole situation. And what kind of decisions it will take. It's also riding on that victory in Kerala. So, that there's an expectation that they will also decide on this matter very soon. Thank you, Mr. Arun. And thank you, Ritu, for joining us.