With Karnataka Congress nearing mid-term, leadership change speculation fuels political drama statewide.
Karnataka:
As the Karnataka Congress government approaches the halfway mark of its five-year term this November, political circles are abuzz with speculation over a potential change in leadership. Media reports have hinted that Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar may replace incumbent Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, adding to the ongoing political drama in the state.
Despite the speculation, Siddaramaiah remains adamant about completing his full term. The veteran Kuruba leader is said to be aiming to surpass the record of former CM D. Devaraj Urs, a champion of backward-class empowerment who served two terms in the 1970s and remains a revered political figure in Karnataka.
Sources told The Sunday Guardian that Siddaramaiah has conveyed to the Congress high command his desire to break Urs’ record. If Siddaramaiah remains in office until January 6, 2026, he will have equaled Urs’ tenure of seven years and 238 days as Chief Minister.
Party insiders from both the All India Congress Committee (AICC) and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) indicate that no leadership change is expected until at least January next year. This timing aligns with the conclusion of the Bihar assembly elections, scheduled for October–November 2025, suggesting the Congress high command may delay any transition to avoid political instability.
Speculation about D.K. Shivakumar’s elevation is rooted in the alleged “power-sharing agreement” that preceded the formation of the Congress government on 20 May 2023. However, sources say the high command has currently asked Shivakumar to wait.
Shivakumar recently responded to questions about his future with a mix of deference and restraint. “What option do I have but to support him [Siddaramaiah]?” he remarked. When pressed by reporters on Siddaramaiah’s assertion that he would remain CM for the full term, Shivakumar snapped, “Why are you worried about our situation? We are not anxious. I am the state president of the party. I will do whatever the party decides.”
Home Minister G. Parameshwara, weighing in cautiously, called the leadership chatter a “drama” but added that he had no intention of starting “another drama company” with speculative comments.
AICC sources continue to maintain that there is no imminent change in leadership. However, with the spotlight on the Congress’s internal dynamics, the political scene in Karnataka is likely to see more statements, counterstatements, and high-voltage drama in the coming months.
