As the Congress high command moves closer to resolving the long-standing leadership tussle in Karnataka in favor of Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, backroom bargaining has intensified.
While Chief Minister Siddaramaiah appears ready to comply with the party leadership’s transition plan, his camp is making significant demands to prevent the balance of power from shifting entirely to Shivakumar.
Key Demands from the Siddaramaiah Camp
To maintain political leverage within the state government and the state party unit, Siddaramaiah’s loyalists have put forward specific conditions before the veteran leader steps down:
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Multiple Deputy Chief Ministers: The camp is pushing to appoint multiple deputies under Shivakumar to dilute absolute control and avoid a single power center.
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Handpicked Party Chief: Siddaramaiah’s supporters want the next Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) chief to be an individual of their choosing.
DK Shivakumar’s Stance
Insiders report that Shivakumar is firmly opposed to creating multiple power centers. While he prefers not to have any Deputy Chief Ministers under his leadership, sources indicate he may concede to a maximum of one deputy if heavily pressured by the high command, but multiple appointments remain a major sticking point.
The Congress Transition Formula
Following a marathon six-hour meeting in New Delhi involving both state leaders and top high-command figures—including Priyanka Gandhi, who reportedly pushed for the leadership change—the party has proposed the following roadmap:
| Aspect | Transition Details |
| Siddaramaiah’s Future Role | Offered a Rajya Sabha seat and a prominent national role based out of New Delhi. |
| Timeline | Siddaramaiah could step down as early as Wednesday. A new government is expected to be in place within a week. |
| Next Steps | Congress state in-charge Randeep Surjewala is arriving in Bengaluru today. Shivakumar will return from Delhi on Thursday morning for a crucial breakfast meeting with Siddaramaiah to finalize terms. |
The Internal Divide: The transition highlights a delicate balancing act for the party. While the Shivakumar camp argues that a rotating chief ministership was promised after the 2023 assembly elections, top leaders like Rahul Gandhi were reportedly hesitant to remove Siddaramaiah, who stands as the Congress party’s only current OBC Chief Minister.
