Congress in Karnataka Faces Leadership Strain

• Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah acknowledges internal uncertainty, says only high command can resolve it.
• DKS meets Kharge in Delhi; urges unity and plays down leadership tensions.
• MLAs flock to Delhi amid lobbying for cabinet berths and power equations.
• Pressure mounts on Congress leadership as conflicting signals fuel political drama.

GG News Bureau
Bengaluru, 25th Nov: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has openly acknowledged internal friction within the ruling Congress, admitting that “confusion” exists over the ongoing leadership tussle with Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar. He said the situation now requires decisive intervention from the party high command.

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah remarked, “Let them go. MLAs have the freedom to go to Delhi. Ultimately, it’s the high command that decides. To put a full stop to this confusion, the high command has to take a decision.”

His comments came as a growing number of Congress MLAs and supporters of DK Shivakumar travelled to Delhi, reportedly to convey dissatisfaction over cabinet allotments and leadership issues. Earlier in the day, Shivakumar made headlines when he stepped into Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge’s car for a private conversation as Kharge was leaving for the airport.

Later, in Kanakapura, Shivakumar chose a restrained tone, avoiding public confrontation. “The matter of leadership is between about five or six of us, and I’m not going to discuss this publicly. I haven’t asked for anything,” he said. He added that he did not want to “embarrass the party” or project weakness, while acknowledging Siddaramaiah’s role in strengthening the party in Karnataka.

Shivakumar also backed Siddaramaiah’s assertion that he would present the next state budget, saying he was “happy” about it, adding that the focus should be on the 2028 Assembly and 2029 Lok Sabha elections.

On the MLAs heading to Delhi, Shivakumar distanced himself, stating, “The MLAs must have gone to Delhi in the hope of becoming ministers. I haven’t called them or spoken to them.”

The intensifying activity has placed the Congress high command under increasing pressure to intervene. With legislators camping in Delhi, senior leaders holding closed-door discussions, and differing public statements from both sides, the situation has evolved into a political flashpoint.

Whether the central leadership acts soon is still unclear, but the Congress government in Karnataka is now treading a careful line between maintaining stability and managing competing ambitions within its ranks.