Karnataka Power Tussle: Kharge Pushes Leadership Crisis Back to State, Deepening Congress Dilemma
Kharge distances high command from Karnataka crisis
The long-simmering power tussle within the Karnataka Congress took a new turn on Sunday after party president Mallikarjun Kharge publicly sought to distance the central leadership from the dispute between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy, DK Shivakumar.
Kharge said any confusion over leadership in Karnataka existed at the local level and should be resolved by state leaders themselves, rather than being attributed to the party’s “high command” in Delhi. The remark comes amid persistent speculation over a possible change in leadership halfway through the government’s five-year term.
A significant statement in a high-command–driven party
Kharge’s comment is politically significant given the Congress party’s long-established culture of centralised decision-making. Traditionally, leadership disputes in Congress-ruled states are settled by the top leadership, often after extended consultations in Delhi.
By shifting responsibility back to the state unit, Kharge appeared to shield the central leadership from growing embarrassment while simultaneously placing the onus on Karnataka’s leaders to manage their internal differences.
However, the statement has also opened the door to multiple interpretations, particularly regarding who currently enjoys the backing of the high command.
Siddaramaiah vs DKS: Competing interpretations
One reading of Kharge’s remarks suggests tacit support for Siddaramaiah’s claim to continue as chief minister for a full five-year term. As the sitting CM, Siddaramaiah has repeatedly asserted that the party’s top leadership is “in his favour” and that no formal decision has been taken to limit his tenure to two-and-a-half years.
On the other hand, supporters of DK Shivakumar argue that the leadership dispute has largely been fuelled at the local level by MLAs backing the deputy chief minister, who continue to cite an alleged power-sharing agreement struck after the Congress’ 2023 victory.
By calling the tussle a local issue, Kharge may also be signalling that claims made by DKS’s supporters—rather than any central assurance—are driving the speculation.
Warning against claiming credit for 2023 victory
Adding another layer to the political messaging, Kharge cautioned party leaders against taking individual credit for the Congress’ emphatic win in the 2023 Karnataka assembly elections.
Without naming anyone, Kharge said the party’s success was a collective effort built by Congress workers over time. The remark was widely seen as a subtle pushback against assertions by DKS loyalists that Shivakumar, as state Congress president, was the principal architect of the victory.
In the 2023 elections, Congress won 135 of 224 seats with a vote share of 43.2%, while the BJP was reduced to 66 seats with 36.3% of the vote. Despite the decisive mandate, the leadership dispute has overshadowed the government almost from day one.
Origins of the power-sharing debate
Following the 2023 victory, Congress leadership had to engage in prolonged negotiations to persuade DK Shivakumar to accept the deputy chief minister’s post while Siddaramaiah took charge as CM. Reports of a rotational chief ministership arrangement—though never officially confirmed—have persisted since then.
As the government crossed the halfway mark of its term on November 20, speculation intensified, prompting MLAs from both factions to approach the high command in support of their preferred leader.
State leaders echo Kharge’s line
Taking cues from Kharge’s statement, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said on Monday that the party’s leadership issues must be resolved internally within the state.
He emphasised that if the All India Congress president has asked state leaders to settle the matter themselves, they should collectively engage in dialogue to find a resolution.
Siddaramaiah insists decision rests with high command
Despite Kharge’s remarks, Siddaramaiah maintained that the final call on leadership would still come from the party’s top leadership, including Rahul Gandhi.
He reiterated that he has communicated with the high command and will abide by whatever decision it takes. Just days earlier, Siddaramaiah asserted on the floor of the assembly that he would continue as chief minister and claimed that no decision had been taken to restrict his tenure.
Shivakumar sticks to agreement line
DK Shivakumar, meanwhile, has continued to state that an agreement exists between him and Siddaramaiah, arrived at with the involvement of the high command, and that both leaders will honour it.
In the past, Shivakumar has alluded to the importance of keeping one’s word through cryptic social media posts, prompting sharp responses from Siddaramaiah, who countered by highlighting his government’s welfare initiatives.
An unresolved crisis with political costs
The ongoing tussle has already caused considerable embarrassment for the Congress and raised questions about its ability to manage internal power struggles, even after securing a strong electoral mandate.
Kharge’s attempt to localise the dispute may reduce pressure on the central leadership, but it has done little to clarify the path forward. With both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar holding firm to their positions, the leadership question remains unresolved—and politically sensitive.
Final Thoughts from TheTrendingPeople
The Karnataka Congress crisis underscores a familiar challenge for the party: balancing strong regional leaders within a centralised organisational structure. By pushing the issue back to the state, Mallikarjun Kharge may be buying time, but without a clear roadmap, the standoff risks deepening internal divisions and distracting from governance. How Congress navigates this moment could shape not just Karnataka’s political future, but the party’s credibility as it eyes larger national battles.