Cong govt in Karnataka marks three years amid leadership conundrum

The Congress government in Karnataka completed three years in office on Wednesday amid a leadership conundrum, with speculation over a possible change in the chief minister overshadowing its achievements and intensifying the power tussle within the party.

There are huge expectations within the party that the Congress high command may soon decide on a leadership change and the much-awaited reshuffle of the state cabinet, especially since the government formation exercise in Kerala has been completed.

Expectations are high that the Congress high command may soon summon CM Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar, who is also the state Congress chief, to New Delhi to amicably discuss and resolve the power tussle over the chief ministership issue.

In fact, the government held a mega 'Sadhana Samavesha' (convention of achievements) on Tuesday, on the eve of completing three years in office, to highlight its achievements.

During the event, Siddaramaiah lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, claiming that the ''Gujarat model of development'' was ''hollow,'' while the welfare-oriented ''Karnataka model'' was superior.

He also stated that his government had implemented welfare guarantee schemes worth more than Rs 1.40 lakh crore while simultaneously carrying out development works and systemic reforms. He also inaugurated and laid foundation stones for development works worth over Rs 682 crore in Tumakuru district.

Though the recent bypoll victories in two Assembly constituencies provided major relief to the ruling party, internal bickering marred the achievement.

As Muslim disgruntlement came to the fore, action was taken against some Muslim leaders of the party, who were considered close to Siddaramaiah, for allegedly working against the official candidate in Davanagere South.

Even when Siddaramaiah became the longest-serving CM of the state, breaking Devaraj Urs's record, and set another record by presenting seventeen state budgets, questions about the longevity of his tenure overshadowed these milestones.

Supporters of Shivakumar have been insisting on his elevation in line with a reported power-sharing agreement with Siddaramaiah when the party won the 2023 Assembly elections.

The leadership tussle within the ruling party has intensified amid speculation about a possible change in the CM after the Congress government crossed the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20, 2025.

The speculation has been fuelled by the reported ''power-sharing'' arrangement between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar at the time of government formation in 2023.

While Siddaramaiah has at times asserted that he will complete a full five-year term, he has also stated that he will abide by the decision of the high command.

Shivakumar, on his part, has consistently maintained that he will abide by the decision of the Congress leadership and that time will reveal the outcome regarding the chief ministership issue.

According to a party leader, the decision on the leadership change may not be abrupt, as the high command could take time to decide on the matter by considering various aspects and consulting different sections within the party, similar to the CM selection process in Kerala. The leadership will also weigh the clout and support base both leaders enjoy within the party and among the public.

Several AHINDA (Kannada acronym for minorities, backward classes, and Dalits) leaders in the party, seen as part of Siddaramaiah's camp, want one of their own to occupy the coveted post if the leadership changes. There is also a demand for a ''Dalit CM'' with Mallikarjun Kharge's name being floated by a section of the party, along with Home Minister G Parameshwara.

Demand has also been growing from a large section of Congress MLAs, who aspire to become ministers, for a cabinet reshuffle that would give some of them an opportunity to serve by replacing certain existing ministers. Some aspirants have also travelled to New Delhi to meet the party high command in this regard.

According to party sources, while Siddaramaiah favours a cabinet reshuffle, Shivakumar wants the party to first decide on the leadership issue.

According to several party insiders, if the Congress high command approves the cabinet reshuffle, it would signal that the incumbent CM, Siddaramaiah, will complete the full five-year term, thereby scuttling Shivakumar's chances of occupying the coveted post.

Several party leaders have expressed concern that the leadership issue is affecting governance and damaging the image of the Congress government.

They have openly demanded that the high command resolve the issue while keeping the party's prospects in the 2028 Assembly elections in mind.

A meeting between Kharge, Siddaramaiah, and Shivakumar at Minister K J George's residence on Monday has triggered speculation that leadership discussions will intensify in the coming days.

Amid all this, the government recently withdrew a 2022 order banning the hijab in classrooms and implemented internal reservation among Scheduled Castes, moves largely seen as attempts to placate the Muslim and AHINDA voter base.

However, the delay in conducting local body polls, including those for five corporations under the newly formed Greater Bengaluru Authority, is being viewed as one of the government's drawbacks, according to a political functionary.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)