The commotion over the Chief Minister's post in Karnataka has intensified. MLAs stated that the likelihood of D.K. Shivakumar soon becoming Chief Minister is b. Several leaders met with the high command in Delhi, further fueling speculation about a change.
New Delhi: The tussle over the Chief Minister (CM) post in Karnataka politics has reached a new turning point. The demand to make Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar the Chief Minister is gaining momentum, as several Congress MLAs are consistently raising this issue before the high command. On Tuesday, some MLAs arrived in Delhi, where they met with top party leaders and clearly stated that the final decision would be made by the high command, but they are fully confident that a change might be seen soon.
Increased Confidence in Shivakumar
Congress MLA Iqbal Hussain from Ramanagara, Karnataka, made a significant statement after returning from Delhi. He said he is "200 percent" confident that D.K. Shivakumar will soon become the Chief Minister. According to him, the transfer of power is part of a "Confidential Agreement" pre-decided within the party.
Iqbal Hussain stated that five to six senior leaders within the party have already agreed upon this understanding. Therefore, the decision now rests with that group, and they will determine when and how the Chief Minister's post will be transferred. He also clarified that all MLAs would respect the high command's decision, regardless of whose favor it comes in.
Increased Delhi Visits Amidst Political Stir
Speculation about a change in power has intensified in Karnataka since the Congress government completed half of its tenure. Discussions about a Power-Sharing Formula between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar during the last elections are now resurfacing. Consequently, a group of MLAs is continuously traveling to Delhi to put an end to this political uncertainty.
According to party sources, six MLAs had already reached Delhi on Sunday night. It is believed that more MLAs might arrive to meet the high command in the coming days. Last week, about 10 MLAs had also met AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, indicating that internal churn is continuously increasing.
Demand for New Faces in Cabinet Expansion
Congress MLA K.M. Uday from Maddur stated that along with a change in Chief Minister, the demand for cabinet expansion is also b. He mentioned that during the meeting in Delhi, MLAs requested the high command to provide more opportunities to the new generation, meaning young faces should be included in the cabinet reshuffle.
Appeal to Dispel Confusion Over Leadership
Many MLAs have described this political dilemma as detrimental to the party. MLA H.C. Balakrishna from Magadi said that the leadership should clarify the situation as soon as possible. He stated that the MLAs' visit to Delhi was with this very objective – to end the confusion within the party and make a clear decision.
Balakrishna said, "Who becomes the Chief Minister is not important. What is important is that the party does not suffer political damage. The high command should intervene and end the uncertainty."
Situation Changes After Half-Term
The Karnataka government completed half of its five-year term on November 20. Following this, political equations began to shift. Within the party, there have been discussions since 2023 about a power-sharing agreement between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar. Although both leaders do not comment publicly on this, the activities of the MLAs now clearly indicate that this issue has once again taken center stage.
