Siddaramaiah Hints at Exit as Power Battle with Shivakumar Intensifies

• Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar meet again as Congress attempts to break the prolonged leadership deadlock.
• CM signals he may step down if instructed by the party’s high command.
• Both leaders likely to be summoned to Delhi on December 8 for decisive talks.
• Kharge pushes for honouring the alleged 2.5-year power-sharing deal.

GG News Bureau
Bengaluru, 2nd Dec: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar met on Tuesday for what has been described as a ‘power breakfast’, the latest attempt by the Congress to end the long-running leadership dispute between the two senior leaders. Though the meeting appeared cordial, it did little to settle the question of who will lead the state for the remainder of the term.

The two leaders, who have been at odds over the Chief Minister’s post since the Congress defeated the BJP in 2023, shared idli, country-style chicken curry and coffee. While Siddaramaiah said they discussed the upcoming Karnataka Assembly session, he also gave the clearest indication yet that he may be prepared to step down — but only on the direction of the party’s top leadership. “Both of us will accept the decision taken by the party, especially Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Mallikarjun Kharge,” he said.

Sources said Shivakumar made a visible effort to show deference to the Chief Minister, with his brother DK Suresh bending down to touch Siddaramaiah’s feet. Both leaders are now expected to be summoned to Delhi on December 8 for talks with the Congress high command. They are likely to travel from Belagavi after the Assembly adjourns.

Officially, the trip will include Congress MPs from Karnataka to discuss issues related to farmers and water management. However, sources said backchannel negotiations on the leadership transition will be the real agenda. Senior leader KC Venugopal is expected to hold preliminary discussions in Mangaluru before the high-level meeting.

A face-to-face discussion with Rahul Gandhi and party president Mallikarjun Kharge is expected to be critical in setting a roadmap for the leadership shift. But sources indicated Rahul Gandhi is not convinced about a mid-term handover, which could dampen Shivakumar’s ambitions of taking over within the next six months.

Tuesday’s meeting was the second in three days. On Saturday, the duo met at Siddaramaiah’s residence over idli, upma and kesari, but that meeting also failed to yield a breakthrough. Shivakumar’s camp is pushing for a handover by April 2026, while Siddaramaiah’s side wants to retain the post till the end of the term. The Chief Minister has reportedly proposed supporting Shivakumar in the 2028 election instead, banking on his influence within the Ahinda voter base.

At the heart of the standoff is an alleged agreement made after the 2023 victory — that Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar would split the five-year term equally. The mid-term mark passed last month without any indication of a transition, prompting renewed pressure from Shivakumar’s supporters and a group of legislators lobbying in Delhi.

On Monday, party chief Mallikarjun Kharge appeared to take a firm position, reportedly reminding leaders that the power-sharing assurance was given in his presence. “That word was given in my presence… and it should be honoured. Otherwise, I have no credibility in my own state,” he is said to have remarked.

With the Congress moving slowly toward a decision, the opposition BJP is keeping an eye on developments. Though there is talk of a no-confidence motion, the party currently lacks the numbers to challenge the government.

As the Congress works to restore unity ahead of the 2028 polls, the leadership tussle continues to cast a shadow over one of the party’s few remaining strongholds.