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Inside details of the Karnataka CM post tussle between Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar
The Congress currently has 140 MLAs in the Karnataka Assembly. (File)
Two dinner meetings in Belagavi — one hosted by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the other by Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar — have emerged as clear muscle-flexing exercises, coming soon after the Congress high command “forced” the two leaders to hold breakfast meetings at each other’s residences in an attempt to cool the leadership tussle.
Barely a week after Shivakumar hosted a dinner for nearly 35 MLAs amid speculation over a possible change of guard, Siddaramaiah’s supporters responded with a dinner of his own attended by Siddaramaiah himself — bringing together his closest associates and senior ministers. The sequence of meetings has been read within the party as action and counter-action, with both camps keen to signal their strength to the high command.
While leaders who attended the dinners have publicly dismissed them as informal gatherings during the winter session, insiders confirmed that the leadership issue and the future political course of the state dominated discussions. The earlier breakfast meetings, convened at the high command’s instance, were meant to project unity and pause speculation over Siddaramaiah’s continuation as chief minister. However, those close to the developments said the calm was superficial, with both sides continuing to consolidate support.
Siddaramaiah’s dinner was attended by senior leaders seen as part of his core support base, including Satish Jarkiholi, HC Mahadevappa, Dr G Parameshwara, BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan, MC Sudhakar, and his legal advisor AS Ponnanna.
The message from the meeting was to convince Siddaramaiah not to give up the chief minister’s post mid-term and to ensure that the high command understands that a leadership change could hurt the Congress’ future, particularly its prospects in the 2028 Assembly elections.
According to sources, close colleagues reassured Siddaramaiah of their backing and conveyed that they would go into a non-cooperation mode if D.K. Shivakumar were to be made chief minister mid-term.
Leaders at the dinner also warned that a change in leadership could affect the implementation of the guarantee schemes, disrupt administration, and weaken the Congress if it is aiming for a sizeable win in 2028.
“There is a need to show the people that we can have a stable government and that Siddaramaiah delivers to the people not just as chief minister but also as a ‘financially solid’ finance minister of the state. He (Sidda) must get a chance to show that he is able to pull the government out of debt, the one that the BJP left behind, and the Congress has been trying to build the state coffers,” said a close aide of CM and insider from the Siddaramaiah camp.
Sources also told News18 that Satish Jarkiholi and Dr G Parameshwara told Siddaramaiah that they would support him completing a full term, but also sought his backing if their names come up as chief ministerial candidates in the run-up to the 2028 elections. Jarkiholi is seen as enjoying strong AHINDA backing, while Dr Parameshwara is viewed as a key Dalit face who could help the Congress expand its vote base.
Siddaramaiah’s dinner last night (December 18) followed just another similar dinner on December 17, hosted by Satish Jarkiholi with over 30 “like-minded” legislators at a hotel in Belagavi.
One may recall, Jarkiholi had been projected by Siddaramaiah’s son, Dr Yathindra Siddaramaiah, as a leader capable of carrying forward the AHINDA political legacy. Jarkiholi has also publicly stated that he is interested in the chief minister’s post in the 2028 elections.
Supporters of Siddaramaiah have urged him not to vacate the chief minister’s post mid-term and instead lead the party into the next election cycle.
While Siddaramaiah had earlier said that the 2023 Assembly election would be his last, he has left the door open. Speaking at a News18 event, he said party workers were asking him to contest again in 2028 and that he had not taken a decision yet.
At the same time, Siddaramaiah’s camp has accused Shivakumar of allowing his supporters to make public statements about a change of guard, despite the high command’s directive that no leader should speak on the issue.
This includes statements by MLA Iqbal Hussain claiming that Shivakumar would become chief minister on January 6 or 9, and attempts by MLA Ranganath, a relative of Shivakumar, to reach out to second-rung leaders citing an unwritten understanding arrived at behind closed doors.
Shivakumar, on his part, is said to be seeking clarity from the high command on when he would be handed power. Insiders in his camp claim that more than 35 Congress MLAs support his bid. The Congress currently has 140 MLAs in the Karnataka Assembly.
December 19, 2025, 13:51 IST
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