Karnataka Power Struggle: Shivakumar Loyalists Meet Congress Leadership Amid Chief Minister Rotation Speculation

The development occurred just one day after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah marked two-and-a-half years in office.

Bengaluru:

A minister and several MLAs loyal to Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar traveled to New Delhi on Thursday to meet with Congress leadership, suggesting a power struggle within the ruling party, according to sources.

This move came just a day after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah completed his two-and-a-half year milestone in office.

Following the May 20, 2023 Assembly election results, there was intense competition between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar for the chief minister position. The Congress party ultimately persuaded Shivakumar to accept the deputy chief minister role.

Reports circulated at the time about a "rotational chief minister formula" arrangement, suggesting Shivakumar would assume the chief minister position after two-and-a-half years, though the party never officially confirmed these reports.

Siddaramaiah has rejected these claims, asserting that he will remain chief minister for the full five-year term.

Sources indicate that some Shivakumar supporters have been pushing for their leader to take the chief minister position.

According to sources, Minister N Chaluvarayaswamy and MLAs Iqbal Hussain, H C Balakrishna, and S R Srinivas headed to Delhi on Thursday.

Twelve additional MLAs are expected to arrive in Delhi on Friday, sources added.

Sources also revealed that approximately a dozen MLCs had recently camped in the national capital and engaged with Congress general secretaries.

During a gathering in Chamarajanagar on Thursday, Siddaramaiah hinted at his intention to continue as chief minister, emphasizing that his position has been strong from the beginning and would remain so moving forward.

When questioned about the MLAs heading to Delhi, Shivakumar stated he was unaware of the development and mentioned he was feeling unwell.

When a reporter brought up Siddaramaiah's assertion about serving the full five-year term as chief minister, Shivakumar responded: "I am very glad about it. No one has said no. No one questioned that he will not be the chief minister. Our party has given him responsibility to work as the chief minister. We all are working together."

Regarding some Congress MLCs meeting him at his residence, the deputy chief minister explained the meeting concerned having the legislative council chairman and deputy chairman positions filled by Congress members.

Meanwhile, Shivakumar's brother and former MP D K Suresh stated that Siddaramaiah never reneges on his promises.

When asked if Siddaramaiah would honor promises made to Shivakumar, Suresh replied he had no information about it.

"You should ask about big things only to big people. How can I answer such questions?" he told reporters in Bengaluru.

Suresh added that his brother had already communicated what was necessary to party seniors.

"The matter is now left to the party, its leadership, the AICC president and Rahul Gandhi to decide," he concluded.