Shivakumar’s Message Triggers Fresh Storm in Karnataka Congress Power-Sharing Row

Bengaluru, Nov 2025 : Karnataka’s ruling Congress faced fresh turbulence on Thursday even as party president Mallikarjun Kharge initiated efforts to resolve the ongoing leadership tussle. Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress chief D.K. Shivakumar posted a cryptic message on social media platform X, invoking the importance of “keeping one’s word.” The post is widely seen as a renewed signal of his claim to the Chief Minister’s post, as the Congress government approaches its two-and-a-half-year mark.

According to party sources, Shivakumar has once again reminded the high command — and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah — of the reported commitment that the top post would be handed over to him halfway through the government’s five-year term. This understanding, though never confirmed officially, has been the centre of internal friction since the Congress formed the government in Karnataka in May 2023.

Shivakumar shared a poster on X bearing the bold message: “Word power is world power.” He wrote: “The biggest force in the world is to keep one’s word. Be it a judge, president or anyone else, including myself, everyone has to walk the talk. Word power is world power.”

Party insiders say the post is a clear sign that Shivakumar is ready to openly articulate his stance on the leadership transition and remind both Siddaramaiah and the high command of the so-called power-sharing arrangement. The post is being interpreted within the party as a subtle yet firm nudge for Siddaramaiah to honour the agreement and step aside.

His message came shortly after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge publicly acknowledged the leadership strain for the first time. Kharge announced that both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar would be called to Delhi for discussions with national leaders, where the matter would be resolved amicably.

On Wednesday, while speaking at a Constitution Day event at the KPCC office, Shivakumar had also underlined the importance of keeping one’s word. His repetition of the same sentiment on social media a day later has intensified speculation about his next move.

Despite the tension, Shivakumar maintained that he would avoid further remarks, stating that his past comments had been misinterpreted. He noted that his statements at an event marking Indira Gandhi’s death anniversary, as well as a comment made during World Fisheries Day, had been blown out of proportion.
“The media is gaining good TRP through such coverage and, in the process, strengthening our party,” he said.

Nevertheless, Thursday’s post has been widely interpreted as a decisive escalation. Adding to this, Shivakumar’s younger brother, former MP D.K. Suresh, recently spoke about the need to honour commitments — remarks that many saw as another indirect message to the Chief Minister.

Both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar have now travelled to Delhi for consultations with party leadership. Sources confirmed that Kharge held a 90-minute meeting with Siddaramaiah in Bengaluru earlier this week, but his efforts to defuse the crisis have not yielded immediate results. The responsibility of handling the matter is now expected to shift to Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.

Siddaramaiah, who initially said he intended to complete a full five-year term, later clarified that the final decision on leadership lies with the high command. He added that both he and Shivakumar would abide by whatever decision the party makes.

With both factions awaiting the crucial meeting in Delhi, all eyes are now on Rahul Gandhi’s intervention — which may finally determine the future leadership of Karnataka’s Congress government.