Karnataka Politics / Karnataka Congress Crisis Deepens: MLAs in Delhi Demand Shivakumar as CM

A renewed political upheaval has gripped the Karnataka Congress, with demands for Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar to assume the Chief Minister's role gaining significant momentum. Sources indicate that ten Congress MLAs, staunch supporters of D. K. Shivakumar, have arrived in the national capital, Delhi, to press this demand, while their arrival in Delhi is seen as a strategic move to exert pressure on the Congress high command to implement a long-standing power-sharing formula in Karnataka. As the Congress government completes two and a half years in power today, the debate over leadership change has intensified, casting a shadow of uncertainty over Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's tenure.

Demand to Honor Two-and-a-Half-Year-Old Promise

These MLAs, considered close to D. K, while shivakumar, departed for Delhi on Thursday afternoon with the primary objective of formally presenting their demand to the party's top leadership. The group is scheduled to meet Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge this evening to articulate their position. Plus, a meeting with All India Congress Committee General Secretary K. C. Venugopal is slated for Friday morning. Sources reveal that the Shivakumar camp's MLAs have a singular demand: "Honor the promise made two and a half years ago. " This unequivocally points to an alleged agreement regarding the Chief Minister's post that was reportedly made during the government's formation to resolve the leadership tussle between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar.

MLAs Arriving in Delhi and Future Strategy

Among the MLAs who arrived in Delhi on Thursday are Dinesh Gooligowda, Ravi Ganiga, and Gubbi Vasu. This initial group is prepared to forcefully present their case before the Congress high command, while in a further show of strength, several other prominent leaders are expected to arrive in Delhi on Friday. These include Anekal Shivanna, Nelamangala Srinivas, Iqbal Hussain, Kunigal Ranganath, Shivaganga Basavaraju, and Balakrishna, while this sustained influx of legislators underscores the D. K. Shivakumar camp's seriousness in pursuing their demand and their strategy to maintain continuous pressure on the high command, while according to sources, more MLAs from the DKS camp might arrive in Delhi over the weekend, which could further escalate the pressure on the central leadership.

Mounting Pressure on Congress High Command

This concerted action by the MLAs Notably increases the pressure on the Congress high command to make a crucial decision regarding the leadership issue in Karnataka. Two and a half years ago, when the Congress government was formed in Karnataka, there was intense competition for the Chief Minister's position between Siddaramaiah and D. K. Shivakumar. At that time, a power-sharing formula was reportedly agreed upon, which was understood to involve both leaders taking turns to hold the Chief Minister's office. Now that the government has completed half of its term,. The Shivakumar camp is demanding that this alleged promise be fulfilled. This situation presents a major challenge for the central leadership of the Congress, as they must resolve this sensitive issue while maintaining party stability and unity in the state.

Siddaramaiah's Chair Under Threat

The heightened activity of D. K. Shivakumar's supporting MLAs has undeniably weakened Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's position. If the high command considers the Shivakumar camp's demand and decides to implement the power-sharing formula, Siddaramaiah might be compelled to step down from the Chief Minister's post. Such a development would mark a significant change for the Congress government in Karnataka and would undoubtedly impact the state's political dynamics. Siddaramaiah has made several important decisions and his government has launched numerous welfare schemes during his tenure, but he now faces a challenge of leadership change from within his own party.

The Road Ahead and Potential Outcomes

In the coming days, the Congress high command faces a difficult decision. They must either honor the alleged power-sharing promise, which could lead to Siddaramaiah's resignation, or reject the demand, which could lead to increased discontent within the party. Both scenarios carry their own political implications, while if the high command accedes to Shivakumar's demand, it would set a precedent within the party, while rejecting it could lead to resentment among D. K. Shivakumar and his supporters, potentially affecting party unity in the state. It remains to be seen how the central leadership of the Congress navigates this complex situation and what steps it takes to maintain political stability in Karnataka.