Siddu vs D.K. once more

The power tussle in Karnataka between the supporters of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy and Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief D.K. Shivakumar appears to be unending. The latest round is currently on and coincides with Siddu completing two and a half years in office.
The significance of the timeline is that it has been widely believed that at the time of swearing in, in 2023, there had been a power sharing agreement wherein Siddaramaiah was to be the CM for the first two and a half years, and D.K. Shivakumar subsequently. The Congress high command has not officially commented on this supposed deal, but both sides have been presenting their opinion time and again.
Siddaramaiah, who apparently has the support of majority of legislatures, is in no mood to give in and has made it abundantly clear that he was going nowhere and would complete the full five-year term. He has been operating through some of his trusted lieutenants, who, in order to put Shivakumar on the defensive, have been demanding that the principle of one man one post should be observed and the state should get a new PCC chief.

In this context, multiple names have been suggested, and the CM is keen that an eminent person from the Lingayat community should hold that position, since it would be also sending a clear message to the BJP, which enjoys the support of majority of Lingayats. It is argued that Shivakumar is a Vokkaliga, who have in the past been supporters of former Prime Minister H.D. Deva Gowda, and whose party has an understanding with the BJP.

Shivakumar’s followers are of the view that Siddaramaiah was deliberately playing politics and was in fact weakening the Congress. He had been with the Janata Dal (Secular) and has been promoting those who had come to the grand old party when he had joined. In addition, his position is secure and any attempt to replace him could lead to the fall of the government as the BJP is waiting in the wings to operationalize its Lotus formula.
Siddaramaiah was in the national capital twice in the past 10 days and it is being said that after being earlier denied a meeting with Rahul Gandhi, he had finally met him, though no discussion on the change of leadership had taken place. On his second visit, he was expected to call on Mallikarjun Kharge, who is more than familiar with his own state and its politics.

What has been happening is that about 10 supporters of Shivakumar had parked themselves in the capital and have been seeking to meet the party leadership. They have been pressing for the high command to implement the promise made two and a half years ago. However, politically, the message that has come out is something completely different. Shivakumar’s opponents have been propagating that there were merely 10 MLAs with him and the rest were still with the CM. This had apparently forced Shivakumar to come out with a statement that all the 140 MLAs of the party backed him and all shall abide with the decision of the high command on any issue. He said that the Congress government shall be there for a full five years and also gave credence to speculation regarding the reshuffle in the state government.
The power fight has boiled down to sharing power in the state even if the status quo is maintained. Shivakumar’s latest strategy seems to be to corner as many positions as possible in the Cabinet reshuffle and thus ensure that his supporters were given their due.

The press in the state has been speaking about the November Revolution, something which has been dismissed as a figment of the imagination of the media by the Chief Minister, who nevertheless has confirmed that a revamp of his government could take place soon.
The fact of the matter is that Siddaramaiah has absolute control of the emerging situation and what has put the high command in a dilemma is that D.K. Shivakumar has been an important fund raiser for the party and to ignore him for long could lead to avoidable repercussions.

There has been hectic lobbying that has been going for accommodation in the Cabinet and many potential ministers are also in the capital trying to put across their individual cases before the central leadership. It is evident that both Rahul and Kharge know that they can do little so far as the situation in Karnataka is concerned and the best option for them would be to settle for a status quo.
The indecision on part of the top party leaders is affecting the Congress in other states as well. The state PCCs have yet to be reconstituted in some places and there seems to be no thinking so far as electoral strategy is concerned in states which are likely to go to polls in the coming year.
There has been a growing demand that an AICC session to openly thrash out some contentious matters should be held as early as possible, and the conclave should not be like previous meetings where no follow-up takes place on resolutions that are adopted.

There is certainly a need to make the party organisation more inclusive and those who have been loyal to the party for decades do not get this feeling that they were unwanted. The power architecture within the Congress has to change if the party has to survive. Between us.