Bengaluru: The uneasy calm within the Karnataka Congress appears to be cracking again as tensions between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar surface publicly. Amid persistent talk of power sharing and murmurs of a “November Revolution” within the party, the duo’s latest appearance together in Kudligi, Vijayanagar district, has reignited speculation about a deepening rift.
Both leaders shared the stage at an official event on November 10 to launch development projects, including the ambitious lake-filling project in Kudligi. But what was meant to be a show of unity for the Congress government soon turned into a display of visible discomfort and political one-upmanship.
Separate arrivals, silent exchanges
According to reports, Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar arrived separately in two different helicopters for the same event, each accompanied by their loyal supporters. Siddaramaiah reached the venue first, escorted by Ministers Santosh Lad and Zameer Ahmed Khan, while Shivakumar arrived a few minutes later with Kudligi MLA Dr. Srinivas.
Once on stage, the two leaders sat beside each other but did not exchange words for nearly half an hour, leading to palpable tension. Political observers noted that their body language conveyed more than their words — strained smiles and cold gestures replaced the camaraderie they once projected.
The comment that sparked debate
During his speech, Siddaramaiah reiterated, “I will continue as the full-time Chief Minister.” The statement — made before Shivakumar — quickly drew attention, especially since the Chief Minister had recently said in Mysuru, “If the high command decides,” in response to a question about power sharing.
Minutes later, Shivakumar subtly countered Siddaramaiah’s words, stating, “Our government will rule for the full term.” The shift from “I” to “our” was seen as a carefully worded correction aimed at signaling collective leadership — or perhaps, asserting his own stake in the future of the government.
Political analysts say the exchange exposes the growing distrust between the two camps within the Congress. While Siddaramaiah wants to complete his full five-year term, Shivakumar’s supporters have long believed in an internal understanding that he would take over midway through the tenure — an arrangement the Chief Minister’s loyalists now appear reluctant to honour.
Underlying tensions resurface
The rift between the two is not new. Since the Congress’s emphatic victory in May 2023, factional politics has simmered beneath the surface. Shivakumar, the state Congress president and key strategist behind the party’s election success, was denied the Chief Minister’s post after intense negotiations with the high command.
Although the Congress leadership projected unity at the time, the unresolved issue of succession continues to haunt the government. The latest exchange at Kudligi, coming amid talks of a “November Revolution,” has fueled rumors of an impending political showdown.
Political implications and BJP’s response
The BJP leaders have suggested that the “mask has come off” the Congress government. A viral AI-generated video showing a conversation between Rahul Gandhi and Siddaramaiah about Shivakumar’s future has only added to the buzz, even though Congress leaders have dismissed it as fake.
Meanwhile, Siddaramaiah tried to divert attention from the controversy by highlighting developmental achievements at the Kudligi event. He inaugurated the project to fill 74 lakes by diverting water from the Tungabhadra river a project initiated during the BJP’s tenure but realized under the Congress government. He also claimed that the government had transferred Rs 1 lakh crore directly into people’s accounts through various welfare schemes in two years.
Still, the political undertones were hard to miss. Even Congress insiders admit that despite attempts at reconciliation, the trust deficit between the Chief Minister and his deputy has widened.
