Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has made a strong and repeated assertion about his political future, declaring he will remain in the top post for the full five-year term of the current government. His statements, made during the ongoing Winter Session of the state legislature, aim to quell persistent speculation about a leadership change or power-sharing agreement with his deputy, state Congress president D K Shivakumar.
"High Command Is In Our Favour": CM's Firm Stance in Assembly
On Friday, while replying to a debate on issues concerning North Karnataka, Siddaramaiah directly addressed the murmurs about his tenure. "Ours is a high command party. We will abide by what the party high command decides. Right now, I am the CM, and going ahead also, I will be the CM," he told the Legislative Assembly. He emphasized that the Congress leadership in Delhi supports his continuation.
This was the second time during the Winter Session, which began on December 8, that the Chief Minister made such a declaration. He explicitly denied any agreement for power-sharing after 2.5 years with Shivakumar. "For the next 2.5 years also, I will be the CM," Siddaramaiah stated, responding to suggestions from the Opposition BJP that he seemed unsure of his position.
Confident Prediction for 2028 and a Jab at the BJP
Going beyond defending his current term, Siddaramaiah projected confidence about the Congress party's long-term prospects in Karnataka. In a pointed remark aimed at the BJP, he predicted a continued Congress reign. "We are in power now, will remain in power for five years and we will return in 2028. The BJP will not come to power in Karnataka on its own," he asserted.
The Chief Minister also addressed concerns about his health, following a brief absence from the legislature due to a stomach ailment. He returned to the session on Thursday and indicated that while he may have weakened physically, his political strength remains undiminished.
Dinner Meetings and the Persistent Leadership Tussle
The Winter Session has been set against a backdrop of subtle political maneuvering, marked by a series of dinner meetings hosted by factions aligned with both the Chief Minister and his deputy. These gatherings are widely seen as displays of strength in the ongoing, though subdued, tussle for influence.
On Thursday night, a group of MLAs from backward and Dalit communities across party lines dined with Public Works Department Minister Satish Jarkiholi, a known Siddaramaiah loyalist. This event was perceived as a counter to a similar dinner hosted by Shivakumar for his supporters earlier in the week.
Speculation about a potential change in leadership has intensified since the Congress government completed half of its five-year tenure on November 20. Despite the high command's earlier directive for both leaders to present a united front through joint breakfast meetings ahead of the session, Shivakumar's camp has kept the issue alive through media narratives and support from various quarters.
However, Siddaramaiah's clear and repeated pronouncements in the legislature leave little room for ambiguity. By stating his intent to serve the full term and forecasting another Congress victory in 2028, he has sought to firmly shut the door on the leadership debate and project an image of stability and confidence for his government.
