The Congress high command is preparing to call Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar to New Delhi. Leaders in Delhi now believe they must act “fast” because they are “furious” with the ongoing political drama in the state. They fear that the open confrontation between the two camps, along with MLAs rushing to Delhi, is damaging the party at a critical moment.

High Command Divided Over Leadership Choice

Reports suggest a clear split within the party’s top decision-makers. Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and Randeep Singh Surjewala are reportedly open to making DK Shivakumar the next Chief Minister. Rahul Gandhi and KC Venugopal, however, want Siddaramaiah to complete his full term. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge holds the decisive vote, and sources say he is still “undecided” and personally invested in the outcome.

Both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar have urged Delhi to end the confusion, saying the uncertainty is harming the government and the party.

Still, top Congress sources insist that no change of CM or cabinet reshuffle will happen before January–March.

Kharge Floated as a Compromise Option

Some leaders close to Kharge have started projecting him as a compromise Chief Minister if the conflict becomes unmanageable. Kharge is a national Dalit face and one of the few southern leaders fluent in Hindi. His supporters argue that stepping into Karnataka may help consolidate the party’s base. But others say his national role as AICC president is now more influential.

A senior Congress leader says, “This is something that both Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi need to take a call on — whether they want to relieve Kharge, who has become more impactful nationally."

Siddaramaiah Camp Pushes Back Hard

Siddaramaiah’s supporters are angry about the narrative pushed by the Shivakumar camp. They say the pressure campaign has created the false impression that Siddaramaiah broke a promise. They argue he has delivered on governance, guarantees and stability, and see no valid reason to replace him.

A senior leader said, “Any change made to the post of CM now will impact the prospects of the Congress in the upcoming elections. It shows the party as disjointed, and the Opposition will take full benefit of it."

They have asked the high command to clarify if there has been any failure in governance or delivery. They say the answer is clearly no.

Options Delhi May Present to the Two Leaders

When Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar reach Delhi, the high command is likely to place several options before them:

Option 1: Both camps must silence their supporters until January. A decision on reshuffle or leadership change will come only after a cooling-off period. Delhi is also worried that internal review meetings are being disrupted by this power struggle.

Option 2: Hold a closed-door meeting after hearing both sides. Decide only after the state budget in March. Until then, both leaders must prove their MLA support.

Option 3: No leadership change now. But Siddaramaiah must agree that DK Shivakumar will lead the 2028 election strategy, campaign and planning. The party will project DKS as the sole CM face.

Option 4: Highlight Kharge’s national role. Leaders argue that removing him from Delhi may weaken the Congress nationally, where his Hindi fluency and stature have boosted the party’s outreach.

Option 5: Exchange roles. Kharge becomes Karnataka CM, and Siddaramaiah moves to Delhi as Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha. Siddaramaiah has said he has “no interest in Delhi,” but the option may still be placed before him.

Kharge–Siddaramaiah Tension Surfaces

Sources say that during a recent meeting, when Kharge discussed the possibility of transferring power, Siddaramaiah replied, “If there is any such idea, one communication from Rahul Gandhi is all that is needed.”
This reportedly upset Kharge, who felt undermined as party president.

Dalit Leaders Warn Against DKS as CM

Important Dalit leaders — Dr G Parameshwara, HC Mahadevappa and Satish Jarkiholi — have warned Kharge that they may adopt a “non-cooperation mode” if Shivakumar becomes CM.

Religious Mutts Enter the Discussion

Prominent religious leaders from different mutts have also begun expressing support for either Siddaramaiah or Shivakumar. The high command is tracking how these endorsements may influence regional politics.

Both Camps Prepare for Final Showdown

Siddaramaiah insists he will complete his five-year term. Shivakumar’s camp says that if Siddaramaiah stays, then DKS must be declared the sole CM candidate for 2028. Shivakumar also wants Satish Jarkiholi on his side.

The recent meeting between Shivakumar and Jarkiholi aimed to test how far the Siddaramaiah camp is willing to go.

Leaders supporting Siddaramaiah say the DKS camp keeps repeating the claim that Siddaramaiah agreed to a power transfer at 2.5 years. They argue that any such discussion involved only a small group and was never finalised.

A minister summarised the situation: “The government is spending more time clarifying who the CM is rather than focusing on development. This unnecessary noise is affecting administration.”

Both leaders say they will follow whatever decision the high command ultimately takes.