Shivakumar will need to work in close coordination with Siddaramaiah to retain the support of the Kuruba community.
Even as Karnataka Congress leader D. K. Shivakumar is all set to take over as Chief Minister following the resignation of veteran leader Siddaramaiah at the request of the party leadership, multiple challenges lie ahead for him as he seeks to balance senior leaders in the Cabinet with a younger generation of party leaders, sources said.
Siddaramaiah, the longest-serving Chief Minister of Karnataka, submitted his resignation on May 28, bringing the curtains down on a political career spanning nearly five decades. However, he has committed himself to continuing the fight for the people and against communal forces. He stepped down from the top post at the request of the party leadership following detailed discussions held over more than six hours.
Sources in the party said Shivakumar will have to strike a balance between leaders loyal to Siddaramaiah, who have been part of the state Cabinet for the past three years, and a new generation of leaders from his own camp.
Siddaramaiah’s Cabinet included several veteran leaders such as K. J. George, Santosh Lad, B. Suresh and G. Parameshwara, among others.
A party source said Shivakumar faces the task of bringing all senior leaders together and ensuring they are able to work freely and cohesively.
Sources said that after the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting scheduled for Saturday at 4 p.m., most leaders are expected to travel to Delhi to discuss the composition of the new Cabinet with the party leadership.
A party insider also said Shivakumar will have to ensure that the sentiments of the Kuruba community, to which Siddaramaiah belongs, are not hurt, while he himself remains one of the most prominent Lingayat leaders in the state.
According to sources, one way to contain any potential dissatisfaction could be by inducting Siddaramaiah’s son, Yathindra Siddaramaiah, currently an MLC, into the Cabinet and assigning him the Health portfolio.
To keep support among Lingayats and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) intact, particularly in northern Karnataka, Shivakumar will have to go the extra mile and ensure adequate representation for these communities in his Cabinet.
The source pointed out that while Shivakumar comes from the Vokkaliga community and enjoys significant support in south Karnataka, he will also have to focus on strengthening the party’s presence in the coastal and central Karnataka regions.
The source further noted that Siddaramaiah declined the party leadership’s offer of a Rajya Sabha berth and made it clear that he intends to remain active in state politics. As a result, Shivakumar will need to work in close coordination with him to retain the support of the Kuruba community, which accounts for an estimated six to seven per cent of the state’s electorate.
The source also cautioned that if Shivakumar chooses to ignore Siddaramaiah, it could create dual power centres within the state and make governance more difficult.
However, a senior party leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Shivakumar possesses a fighter’s spirit and is determined to establish a strong legacy through performance.
The leader said Shivakumar’s close relationship with the Gandhi family works in his favour and will allow him considerable operational freedom as Chief Minister.
He also noted that Shivakumar has consistently sought to achieve milestones that have eluded others in Karnataka politics, including bringing the Congress back to power in the 2028 Assembly elections.
With Shivakumar’s elevation, the party leader said, the Gandhi family has sent a clear message that leaders who work hard and remain patient will ultimately be rewarded rather than ignored, further reinforcing Rahul Gandhi’s image as a leader who stands by his commitments.
