Bengaluru: With murmurs of leadership change growing louder within the Karnataka Congress, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar’s week-long temple run has taken on political undertones, sparking speculation that the long-standing power struggle between him and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is entering a new and more intense phase.
Though projected as a personal spiritual journey, DK Shivakumar’s high-profile visits to religious institutions, often accompanied by overt declarations of political ambition from his supporters, have made it increasingly clear that the temple tour is as much about prayer as it is about power.
Temple tour or political statement?
For nearly a week now, DCM DK Shivakumar has been traveling across districts, visiting prominent mutts and temples, including the Kodi Math and Jenukal Siddeshwara Temple in Hassan district. During these visits, he has offered special pujas, met with seers, and sought blessings all while his supporters have openly shouted slogans proclaiming him as the “next Chief Minister of Karnataka.”
Just yesterday, Shivakumar paid respects to the thrones of Neelamajjayya and Shivalingajjayya at Kodi Math and held a long meeting with the math’s elders. When asked about the symbolism behind his exclusive rituals, including prayers behind closed temple doors, DK dismissed speculation, saying, “Devotion is between the devotee and God.”
However, the political timing is hard to miss. With party insiders hinting at a possible “September revolution” as suggested by minister KN Rajanna, and amid mounting speculation that the Congress high command may evaluate the leadership equation ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, DK’s spiritual retreat appears deeply strategic.
Contrast with Siddaramaiah’s approach
While Shivakumar has projected an image of a leader immersed in prayer, Siddaramaiah continues to maintain a firm administrative grip on the state. Sources close to the CM’s camp suggest that Siddaramaiah views DK’s temple tour and the growing noise from his supporters with concern, interpreting it as an attempt to create moral and symbolic capital in the run-up to any leadership decision.
Siddaramaiah is also said to be displeased with the optics being created—where DKshi is presented as a “people’s CM-in-waiting,” while the incumbent is painted as aloof from spiritual or symbolic outreach. Siddaramaiah loyalists have countered this by emphasizing governance and developmental progress as the true markers of leadership, rather than symbolism.
Swamijis and soft endorsements
What further adds weight to DK Shivakumar’s efforts is the subtle but visible support he is receiving from seers of various religious institutions. The optics of swamijis blessing him, offering prasada, or holding private discussions with him lend a socio-spiritual endorsement that carries weight, especially in the rural and Lingayat-dominant belts where religious mathas are highly influential.
Analysts note that DK Shivakumar’s visit to Navile Nageshwara Temple—famously visited by B.S. Yediyurappa before he took oath as CM—is more than just a spiritual coincidence. “It is a symbolic act meant to draw parallels and invoke divine legitimacy to political ambitions,” one senior political observer said.
The most direct indication of DK’s intentions, however, has come from his cadre. Supporters chanting “Next CM DK Shivakumar” slogans at multiple temple venues, especially at Kodi Mutt, have sent a strong political message. Despite DK’s own restraint in making direct statements, the atmosphere he is allowing to build around him is suggestive of a man preparing to stake claim at the top seat.
DK says, ‘My prayers are my own’
Even amid increasing speculation and reports of growing friction between the CM and DCM camps, DK maintains a calm but cryptic stance. “No matter who says what, no matter what talk of revolution circulates, my prayers are mine,” he said during one of the temple visits.
The messaging here is multi-layered: asserting independence, showcasing humility before divine power, and simultaneously projecting readiness for elevation without direct confrontation.
With the Congress central leadership expected to review the Karnataka government’s performance soon, the Shivakumar-Siddaramaiah equation could be in for recalibration. While DK has patiently waited under a rotational CM agreement in principle, the question now is whether he will press harder for a September transition—or wait for 2026.
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