As the Congress government in Karnataka nears its two-and-a-half-year mark on November 20, intense political heat has gripped the state. Behind the façade of governance, a quiet storm brews within the ruling party. Questions are multiplying — will there be a “November revolution”? Does it imply a cabinet reshuffle, expansion, or even a leadership change? The Congress’s internal equations have become unpredictable, with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar seemingly charting parallel courses towards Delhi’s power corridors.
The tremors caused by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s son, Dr Yathindra Siddaramaiah, and his recent “succession bomb” continue to rattle the party. His open hint that his father deserves a full five-year term — and that power-sharing is a “media creation” has intensified whispers in political circles about leadership ambitions and internal distrust.
In this charged backdrop, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is set to visit Delhi on November 15 to meet top Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, to seek approval for a cabinet reshuffle. According to sources, Siddaramaiah aims to remove non-performing ministers and induct loyalists to consolidate his position ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. However, the move is fraught with risks especially given the undercurrents within the Congress Legislative Party.
Adding intrigue to the unfolding drama, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who had earlier said he would not travel to Delhi, abruptly changed his mind on Sunday afternoon and boarded a flight to the capital. His sudden decision has sparked widespread speculation about whether the two top leaders are competing to influence the high command’s decisions.
DK Shivakumar, meanwhile, has set November 20 as a key deadline for his ministers, MLAs, and district Congress committee presidents. In a letter sent to all of them, he instructed that the groundwork for constructing 100 Congress offices across Karnataka should be completed by that date. The foundation-laying ceremony, marking the centenary of “Gandhi Bharat,” will be held simultaneously in multiple districts — an event that Rahul Gandhi is expected to inaugurate.
Analysts believe this move is DK Shivakumar’s way of projecting his organisational strength and showcasing himself as a mass leader who can mobilise cadres a subtle message to the high command about his leadership potential.
