The faction backing Deputy Chief Minister and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president D. K. Shivakumar plans to demonstrate its strength before the party high command in Delhi in what appears to be intensification of the leadership tussle as the Congress government completed the first half of its five-year term on November 20.
Their objective is to push for Mr. Shivakumar to be appointed Chief Minister, replacing the incumbent, Siddaramaiah.
More MLAs are expected to fly to the national capital on November 21 and in the next two days, sources in the Congress said.
On November 20, a group of Congress MLAs loyal to Mr. Shivakumar met party national president Mallikarjun Kharge in the national capital and urged him to make the Deputy Chief Minister the CM.
MLAs loyal to Mr. Shivakumar — Gubbi MLA Srinivas, Sringeri MLA T. D. Rajegowda, Kunigal MLA H. D. Ranganath, Anekal MLA B. Shivanna, Kudachi MLA Mahendra Kallappa Tammannavar, Hoskote MLA Sharat Bachhe Gowda, Nelamangala MLA N. Srinivas, Mandya MLA Ravikumar Gowda, and a couple of MLCs —, are camping in Delhi.
Besides Kharge, the MLAs have decided to meet Congress General Secretary (Organization) K. C. Venugopal and senior leaders of the party and place their demands before them.
Though Agriculture Minister N. Chaluvarayaswamy, who also belongs to the Vokkaliga community, was in Delhi on November 21, he clarified that he was on an official visit to meet his counterpart in the Union Government.
Mr. Shivakumar played down the matter, claiming to have no idea of legislators visiting Delhi, but sources said that the loyalists of the KPCC chief have decided to adopt an aggressive strategy to put pressure on the high command to replace Mr. Siddaramaiah to honour the much-talked-about power-sharing pact arrived at during the formation of the Congress government in May 2023.
Speaking about the government reaching the midway point of its term, former MP D. K. Suresh, brother of D. K. Shivakumar, said, “Mr. Siddaramaiah has made a promise. He will keep his word.”
On November 20, during a visit to Chamarajanagar, Mr. Siddaramaiah said, “There is no kranti (revolution) or bhranti (confusion). People have given us five years. We will sincerely work to fulfill the five guarantees.”
Mr Siddaramaiah said discussions on leadership change are unnecessary. He explained that he had earlier conveyed to the high command that a cabinet reshuffle could be considered after the government completed the first half of its five-year term, which may have triggered the chatter about power-sharing.
He dismissed the superstition that Chief Ministers visiting Chamarajanagar lose power mid-way. He claimed that his position has only strengthened. “I will continue to remain strong,” the Chief Minister said.
Former minister K. N. Rajanna pointed out that the party high command had announced that Mr. Shivakumar would be in the KPCC chief’s post till completion of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. “Did he (DKS) honour the pact,” Mr. Rajanna asked.
Most of the ministers continue to support Mr. Siddaramaiah, stating that he would be the CM for the full five-year term.
Published – November 21, 2025 11:21 am IST
