The long-running tussle for the Chief Minister’s post in Karnataka Congress has been temporarily paused, with leaders DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah agreeing to a ceasefire for the time being. The intense political battle, which has dominated state Congress circles for over a month, has been effectively put on hold through a single reconciliation breakfast meeting, with further decisions deferred to the party high command.
The recent developments follow a high command meeting held in Delhi under Sonia Gandhi’s leadership, which was expected to address the ongoing leadership issues in Karnataka. However, the discussions were limited to parliamentary session agendas, and no concrete decisions regarding the state political scenario were taken. AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge reportedly briefed Sonia Gandhi on the developments in Karnataka, including the ‘kurchi’ fight, the breakfast meeting between the CM and DCM, and the subsequent joint press conference. Kharge’s report lasted only a few minutes, and Sonia Gandhi assured that she would intervene, but the matter has been temporarily postponed.
DK Shivakumar, eager for clarity on his position, aligned himself with the high command’s directives. In a gesture to reduce tensions, he hosted a reconciliation breakfast with Siddaramaiah, which led to a temporary thaw in their strained relationship. Both leaders reiterated in a joint press conference that there were no differences between them and assured party workers that they would act in unison. This symbolic gesture by the two top leaders has temporarily stabilised the political environment in the state, at least until the next major session.
The high command’s Delhi meeting, attended by Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, and K.C. Venugopal, was primarily focused on strategies for the upcoming Lok Sabha session. The state leadership issue was not a major topic of discussion. Sources indicate that the high command intentionally deferred a decision on the CM post, effectively pausing the ongoing state-level power struggle.
State Congress leaders had anticipated a thorough discussion on Karnataka’s political scenario, especially after the reconciliation breakfast. However, no substantive deliberations took place, and the high command has maintained the status quo for now. The temporary pause allows both Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar to continue their administrative roles without immediate political conflict, with the expectation that a final decision will be taken before the Belagavi legislative session.
Following the breakfast meeting and the joint press conference, both leaders emphasised unity and solidarity, signalling to party workers and the public that the internal differences had been temporarily resolved. While the power tussle remains unresolved at the high command level, the temporary truce has reduced immediate tensions and allowed the Congress leadership to focus on broader parliamentary strategies.
Informed sources confirm that Sonia Gandhi has acknowledged the ongoing state-level confusion and has promised to resolve it at an appropriate time, ensuring that the party maintains organisational stability in Karnataka while preparing for the upcoming legislative and parliamentary sessions.
