Power strain peaks; Karnataka top duo meets over breakfast
Bengaluru – Karnataka politics entered a tense phase this week as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar sharpened their public battle for power. The Congress high command stepped in quickly and urged both leaders to end the confrontation. After the intervention, Siddaramaiah invited Shivakumar for a breakfast meeting today in Bengaluru. The party wants them to settle the dispute before they travel to Delhi for further discussions.
The conflict escalated on Thursday when Shivakumar posted a pointed message on X. He wrote that “word power is world power” and insisted that leaders must keep their promises. His remark revived conversations around the widely discussed but unofficial 2023 “power-sharing understanding,” which many believed promised him the Chief Minister’s position midway through the five-year term.
Soon after, Siddaramaiah responded with a sharp counterpost. He said that “a word has power only when it improves people’s lives.” He added that the voters of Karnataka gave a mandate for a full five years, not for political manoeuvring. His message signalled clear resistance to any talk of rotating the Chief Ministership.
The exchange created discomfort in the Congress leadership. Senior party figures criticised both leaders for engaging in a public war of words while the party prepares for several key political battles. They instructed both men to maintain unity and de-escalate the situation.
On Friday evening, Siddaramaiah admitted that the high command asked him to meet Shivakumar. He said he would discuss the issue during the breakfast meeting. He also reaffirmed that he always follows the high command’s decisions and will travel to Delhi if required. Shivakumar also attempted to calm the atmosphere. He told reporters that he does not want anything and is not in a hurry. He insisted that the party would take the final decision and that he would respect it.
However, the rumours of a rotational Chief Minister formula continue to drive political speculation. In 2023, soon after the Congress won Karnataka, multiple reports claimed that the party negotiated a compromise: Siddaramaiah would serve as Chief Minister for 2.5 years, and Shivakumar would take over for the remaining term. The party never confirmed this, but the idea resurfaced sharply this month as the government reached its halfway mark on November 20.
As pressure mounted, Shivakumar added to the mystery by speaking of a “secret deal” involving a small group of senior leaders. He refused to disclose details, saying that he wanted to protect the party from embarrassment. He also emphasised that loyalty to the party and its workers comes before personal ambition.
Meanwhile, six Congress MLAs who support Shivakumar reportedly visited Delhi earlier this month to meet the leadership. When asked, Shivakumar distanced himself from their trip and said they were likely lobbying for ministerial posts.
As the situation unfolds, the Congress high command aims to prevent the rift from widening further. Today’s breakfast meeting will become a key moment in determining whether the two top leaders can present a united face or whether the power tussle will deepen.
