The simmering factional feud within the Karnataka Congress has pushed the party's state unit into a prolonged period of uncertainty, with hopes now firmly pinned on a high-stakes meeting in Delhi scheduled for the first week of January 2026. The meeting, expected to involve Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, is seen as a potential circuit-breaker to end the public bickering.
The Core Conflict and High Command's Intervention
The leadership tussle, which shows no signs of abating, revolves around the chief minister's post. Supporters of Deputy CM Shivakumar have repeatedly claimed that a power transition is imminent, especially after Siddaramaiah is set to surpass D Devraj Urs as the state's longest-serving chief minister in early January. However, Siddaramaiah has categorically ruled out stepping down, asserting he will complete his full term.
The stalemate has also highlighted underlying tensions between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. On Sunday, December 22, Kharge publicly blamed the state unit for the ongoing "confusion" and asked local leaders to settle their issues. In a pointed response the next day, Siddaramaiah stated that Rahul Gandhi would decide on the leadership issue and that he "would abide by the LoP's decision."
Claims, Counter-Claims, and a Show of Unity
Amid the national leadership's purported evaluation of which contender commands majority support among the party's 135 MLAs, both camps have made strong claims. The Siddaramaiah camp asserts the backing of about 100 legislators, while Shivakumar's aides say he has secured the support of nearly 60 MLAs in recent months.
The political drama was reignited recently when Madhugiri MLA K N Rajanna, a sacked Siddaramaiah loyalist, met Shivakumar. While Rajanna clarified his continued support for Siddaramaiah as CM, Shivakumar used the occasion to project unity, stating, "The CM and I are together. We are working like brothers." This followed a symbolic breakfast meeting between the two leaders to present a united front, even as Siddaramaiah, during the Belagavi Winter Session, twice asserted there was no power-sharing pact with his deputy.
Strategic Calculations and Future Implications
The conflict is deeply rooted in both camps' strong beliefs about who should lead the administration and steer the party into the 2028 Assembly elections. A first-time MLA from the Shivakumar camp argued that a transition is essential to energize the party's rank and file.
However, the Siddaramaiah camp remains confident, citing critical social and political calculations. Loyalists point to the party's "bitter experiences in the past," like the sacking of CM Veerendra Patil in the 1990s that alienated the Lingayat community. They warn that replacing Siddaramaiah, a Kuruba leader, without cause could antagonize one of the state's most populous communities and prove "counter-productive" for the 2028 polls.
Insiders suggest that despite Shivakumar's persistent push, the high command has communicated the challenges in replacing the sitting CM. In a potential compromise, Shivakumar may continue as Deputy CM with key portfolios and retain the state party president's post. As the January meeting in Delhi approaches, the Congress's ability to broker a lasting peace will be critically tested, with the party's stability in its only southern stronghold hanging in the balance.
