The simmering power struggle between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy, DK Shivakumar, has erupted once again — this time over the controversial transfer of senior engineers from the Water Resources Department. The row, marked by a strongly worded letter from DCM Shivakumar to the Chief Secretary, has brought the internal rift in Karnataka’s ruling establishment into sharp focus.
On May 13, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who also holds the crucial Water Resources portfolio, fired off a letter accusing the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR) — controlled by the Chief Minister of bypassing him while issuing transfer orders. The DCM objected to the May 9 transfer of five chief engineers without his consent, calling the move a violation of agreed-upon administrative norms.
DCM’s letter reveals deepening tensions
In his letter to Chief Secretary Shalini Rajaneesh Shivakumar, he reminded the top bureaucrat that clear instructions had been issued at the inception of the current government, stating that any postings or transfers related to the Water Resources Department must receive his prior approval.
“The order issued by DPAR on May 9 transferring some chief engineers was done without my knowledge or approval. This violates the administrative procedure that was put in place from the beginning of this government,” Shivakumar wrote.
He further insisted that such unilateral decisions undermined ministerial authority and administrative accountability and demanded immediate withdrawal of the transfers.
The CM’s department takes charge — without consulting DCM
The Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR), which operates directly under Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, had issued the May 9 order citing “administrative and public interest.” The order transferred five senior engineers to various vacant posts in the Public Works Department and directed them to report for duty immediately.
According to sources, all five officers complied with the directive and submitted their Transfer of Charge Certificates. However, this swift execution of the transfers, allegedly without the minister’s knowledge, has triggered an administrative face-off.
Transferred officers and their new postings:
- HC Ramendra – Chief Engineer (CE) Inter-State Water Dispute, Bengaluru
- Vinayak G. Sugar – CE, Irrigation Projects Zone, Karnataka Irrigation Corporation, Tumkur
- JE Yatish Chandran – CE, Ettinahole Project Zone, Karnataka Irrigation Corporation, Tumkur
- Sivananda R. Nayak – CE, Kada Irrigation Projects Zone, Kalaburagi
- PB Prakash – CE, Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation, Bengaluru
These officers had reportedly been awaiting postings for several months, and their redeployment was part of a long-pending reshuffle.
Rift reflects a larger power struggle
This transfer controversy has once again highlighted the uneasy relationship between CM Siddaramaiah and DCM Shivakumar, both of whom have been navigating a tightrope since the Congress returned to power in Karnataka last year. While Siddaramaiah holds the CM’s chair and the powerful DPAR portfolio, Shivakumar commands considerable clout within the party and has been openly positioning himself as the next leader-in-waiting.
Party insiders suggest that this latest flashpoint may not be just about administrative oversight but also an assertion of authority by Shivakumar, who has grown increasingly frustrated over being sidelined on key decisions.
The public display of friction between the state’s top two leaders comes at a politically sensitive time. With the Lok Sabha elections concluded and the government preparing for its second year in office, such episodes could erode the image of internal cohesion within the Congress-led administration.
Sources close to the CM’s camp have maintained that the transfers were routine and within administrative norms. However, DCM Shivakumar’s strong reaction indicates deeper dissatisfaction and mistrust. His move to escalate the matter in writing to the Chief Secretary also suggests that this is not likely to be the last confrontation.
