Karnataka Politics: Karnataka’s political scene is getting lively again. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah just met Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge in Bengaluru and shot down the latest rumours about a possible leadership shake-up. Meanwhile, his deputy, DK Shivakumar, is still in the picture, keeping the buzz alive that Karnataka might be headed for a Maharashtra-style switch at the top.
What actually happened when Siddaramaiah met Kharge?
Siddaramaiah called it just a “courtesy visit,” saying they mainly discussed party organisation and the upcoming local polls. Afterward, he told reporters that talk of a leadership change is just something the media cooked up. He repeated, “Whatever the high command says, we’ll do” – whether that means he stays in charge or Shivakumar steps up.
If the cabinet gets reshuffled, Siddaramaiah says he’ll follow orders from the party’s top leaders. Simple as that.
Now, about Shivakumar—he and his brother DK Suresh met Kharge in Delhi not long ago, which got people talking about whether there’s a bigger plan at work. Shivakumar brushed it off as a routine meeting, but behind closed doors, there’s talk of a deal: supposedly, they agreed back in 2023 that Siddaramaiah would run things for two and a half years before handing over to Shivakumar. DK Suresh has backed Siddaramaiah, insisting he’ll keep his promises.
On the party’s side, Randeep Surjewala, who oversees Karnataka for the Congress, says there’s no official talk of replacing Siddaramaiah. Insiders say only Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and the AICC get to decide on leadership or reshuffles—not just the MLAs. Siddaramaiah himself seems pretty confident he’ll present the next state budget, making it clear he wants to stick around for the whole five-year term.
Why are people comparing all this to Maharashtra?
Karnataka Politics: Well, Maharashtra saw some big leadership changes thanks to internal Congress politics. Now people are wondering if Karnataka will go the same way – with power-sharing deals turning into complete leadership swaps. Shivakumar’s steady push, plus his brother’s moves, have made some folks think history could repeat itself in Bengaluru.
As for what happens next, most reports suggest a cabinet reshuffle is more likely than a sudden change at the top. But with the Bihar elections coming up, Siddaramaiah thinks the party might put off any big decisions for now. So, everyone’s watching to see where the MLAs stand, how Kharge and the AICC play their cards, and whether Shivakumar will actually shake things up—or just wait for his moment.
