The Karnataka Congress is facing internal turmoil after Channagiri MLA Basavaraju V Shivaganga made a public claim that D.K. Shivakumar would become the Chief Minister after December. This statement has triggered a notice from the party leadership, as it violates party discipline.
Basavaraju's statement reignited speculation about a potential change in leadership, which has been a recurring issue within Karnataka's political circles. There have been reports of a power-sharing agreement between the current Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, and his deputy, D.K. Shivakumar, since the Assembly elections in May 2023. After the elections, both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar were contenders for the Chief Minister's position. Eventually, Shivakumar was appointed as Deputy Chief Minister.
D.K. Shivakumar, who also serves as the Congress state president, has described Basavaraju's remarks as a breach of party discipline and confirmed that a notice would be served to him. Shivakumar emphasized that MLAs should adhere to party discipline and refrain from making statements about the Chief Minister's position or other sensitive issues. He reiterated previous instructions given to party members to avoid creating confusion through unnecessary statements.
In response to the controversy, Shivakumar stated, "No one should talk about the CM post and other issues... They should not cross the line... They have been strictly instructed in the past not to create confusion by making unnecessary statements". He further added that Basavaraju's repeated statements on the matter constitute a violation of party discipline.
This is not the first instance of internal conflict within the Karnataka Congress. Tensions between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar have been escalating, raising concerns about the stability of the state government and the party's future. An unwritten agreement was purportedly reached when the Congress formed the government in May 2023, suggesting that Siddaramaiah would serve as Chief Minister for two-and-a-half years, after which Shivakumar would take over. If this agreement is honored, the transition would occur in November.
D.K. Shivakumar has also addressed earlier claims made by other party MLAs, including H.C. Balakrishna and Ramanagara MLA H.A. Iqbal Hussain, regarding his potential ascension to the Chief Minister's post. Shivakumar has firmly stated that there are no discussions about leadership change and has instructed party leaders and legislators to refrain from speaking to the media on this issue. He has emphasized the importance of strengthening Siddaramaiah's leadership and the government's efforts.
However, this is not an isolated incident, as Minister K.N. Rajanna recently made controversial statements questioning Rahul Gandhi and the party's stance on voter list manipulation. Rajanna's remarks led to his resignation from the cabinet, further highlighting the internal strife within the Karnataka Congress.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has seized upon these internal conflicts, with BJP MP Jagadish Shettar asserting that the infighting is weakening the Congress government. He pointed to Shivakumar's efforts to become Chief Minister and the resulting instability within the party. Former Chief Minister and BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai has also accused Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar of neglecting governance due to their power struggle, alleging that they are more focused on protecting their positions than serving the people.
