In Karnataka, a fight for the top post Premium

The tensions between Siddaramaiah and D.K. Shivakumar persist

The tussle over power-sharing between Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy D.K. Shivakumar, which had surfaced during the formation of the Congress government in May, is in the open once again.

Amid claims by some MLAs that Mr. Shivakumar will take over the post of Chief Minister after two and a half years, Mr. Siddaramaiah’s assertion last week that he will complete a full term has again set the cat among the pigeons.

While Mr. Siddaramaiah has a mass following and is known to appeal to the minorities, backward classes, and Dalits across the State, Mr. Shivakumar, who is also heading the State party unit, is known for his organisational skills and pull among the dominant Vokkaliga community.

With both leaders vying for power, the Congress high command, especially Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, prevailed upon them to work together to ensure smooth government formation as well as the rolling out of the party’s five guarantee schemes. However, there has been turbulence every now and then, largely owing to the varying political backgrounds, leadership styles, ambitions, and ideological approaches of the two leaders.

Though Mr. Siddaramaiah and Mr. Shivakumar sought to give the impression that there is no political one-upmanship, their staunch supporters have been openly airing their differences. The omission of senior party leader B.K. Hariprasad from the Cabinet and the alleged side-lining of a section of Cabinet ministers in making key decisions have caused resentment. Some ministers alleged a lack of acknowledgement for their contributions in the party’s spectacular victory in the 2023 Assembly elections. Even as Mr. Shivakumar is biding his time, ministers Satish Jarkiholi and G. Parameshwara have also been nursing their ambition to occupy the coveted top post.

In order to ensure equal distribution of powers, Cooperation Minister K.N. Rajanna mooted a proposal before the high command to appoint three more Deputy Chief Ministers for “balancing castes” ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. This proposal is seen as a bid by the Siddaramaiah camp to checkmate Mr. Shivakumar, who is seen to be taking decisions related to Bengaluru, which is key to the State’s economic growth, with little consultation.

Mr. Shivakumar’s “unilateral” proposal to rename Ramanagara district, abutting the State capital, as Bengaluru South has not gone down well with the Chief Minister. Mr. Siddaramaiah distanced himself from it saying, “I will discuss it with him. As he has not discussed the matter, I don’t know what is on his mind.”