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DK Shivakumar said history is a reminder that no person or political party remains permanently in power, which is seen as a veiled jab at Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah.
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar (Image: PTI/File)
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Sunday remarked that no individual or political party remains permanently in power, in an apparent veiled jibe at Chief Minister Siddaramaiah amid the ongoing leadership tussle between the two leaders.
Speaking at the Congress Foundation Day programme held at Bharat Jodo Bhawan at the KPCC office, Shivakumar said history is a reminder that even the most powerful eventually fade. “Even emperors have disappeared into oblivion. Alexander the Great, who conquered the world, is gone. Saddam Hussein had to hide in a tunnel. This will happen to others as well, including the BJP,” he said.
READ MORE: ‘Work, Not Words’: Another Dig At Siddaramaiah By Shivakumar After Kharge Meeting?
Reiterating the enduring place of Mahatma Gandhi in India’s history, Shivakumar said, “Is it possible to erase Mahatma Gandhi’s name from the history of India? It’s not possible.” He added that no party or individual can remain in power permanently. “Everything has to end, no?” he said.
Drawing further from historical examples, Shivakumar said, “Even the greatest of rulers have gone away. Will BJP be there permanently? No. Even Alexander the Great went away, what happened to Saddam Hussein? He had to hide in the end.”
He, however, declined to speculate on political outcomes. “I won’t talk about what’s going to happen. Let it happen,” Shivakumar said.
Last week, Shivakumar visited Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge’s residence, after which he said, “I didn’t just sit on the stage and give speeches; I’ve done every work in the party.” These remarks were also seen as a jab towards Siddaramaiah.
Karnataka Power Tussle
The internal debate within the ruling Congress has intensified after the government crossed the halfway point of its five-year term on November 20. Speculation around a leadership change has been linked to the reported power-sharing agreement between the two leaders when the Congress came to power in 2023.
Siddaramaiah has publicly stated that he would continue as the Chief Minister of Karnataka for a full term. There have been reports of a possible agreement to split the chief minister’s tenure equally between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar. While neither the party nor the leaders have confirmed this, Shivakumar recently hinted at a “secret deal” without giving details.
However, Shivakumar has denied reports of a rift maintained that the current administration is functioning as a cohesive team under the freedom granted by the Congress high command.
December 29, 2025, 12:19 IST
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