All may not be well in Karnataka as power tussle intensifies over CM post

NEW DELHI: The power-sharing tussle in Karnataka has intensified with followers of both Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar within Congress rooting for their favourite leader to hold power in the state.

Shivakumar’s Delhi visit has raised eyebrows in political circles, with many arguing that the power struggle in Karnataka has nearly reached its peak.

Although Shivakumar clarified on Wednesday that there was “no political agenda” to his Delhi visit and that he had only come to attend a private marriage ceremony, it is believed he is likely to hold brief meetings with the Congress high command to discuss the alleged power-sharing formula further.

#WATCH | Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar arrives in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/gXcJXEH7H0

— ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2025

In Mangaluru, senior Congress leader K C Venugopal witnessed the internal party dynamics, with supporters of both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar raising slogans for their respective leaders.

“No political agenda. I have come here for the wedding of my friend’s son”, Shivakumar told reporters after he arrived in Delhi on Wednesday evening. As Karnataka Congress president, he said, it was his responsibility to oversee arrangements for the upcoming December 14 rally on the issue of “Vote Chori”, where over 10,000 people from Karnataka will participate.

“I wanted to make arrangements for the December 14 Vote Chori rally. We are expecting more than 10,000 people to come from Karnataka. I just wanted to discuss with my colleagues and other friends what arrangements we can make. As the party president (of Karnataka Congress), I have the responsibility for all these things. I will return early morning because I have a cabinet meeting at 11 am”, Shivakumar said.

The Deputy CM said he will not meet anyone from the party high command, as they are busy with the ongoing winter session of Parliament. “No, I am not expected to meet anyone because all of them are busy with Parliament. We have to take Karnataka forward together, work together, live together and bring back the party together”, Shivakumar added.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said he will visit the national capital only to meet top Congress leaders after being called by the party high command. “Let him go. I will go only if I receive a call. I have not received a call so far,” Siddaramaiah told reporters here.

Earlier on Wednesday, PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi fuelled further speculation over the power tussle, saying that the issue could take “thirty months or three years”. “I said it could be thirty months, or it could be three years,” Jarkiholi told reporters in Mangaluru.

As this happened, Home Minister G Parmeshwara said he does not wish to comment further on recent political differences, stating that any minor issues have been resolved. Speaking to reporters, Parameshwar said, “I dont want to comment unnecessarily. It’s all over now. Whatever little difference was there, if it was there, has been resolved.”

Reacting to these developments, Minister Priyank Kharge said that every visit to Delhi should not be seen as politics or a conspiracy theory. (ANI)