Support within the Congress party in Karnataka has come under the spotlight after Rahul Gandhi sent a brief WhatsApp reply to DK Shivakumar, telling him “Please wait, I will call you” — a message that reached Shivakumar after almost a week of persistent contact from the Deputy Chief Minister’s camp. The exchange has rekindled debate over a purported 2023 agreement under which Shivakumar was to succeed Siddaramaiah as Chief Minister midway through the state’s term.
Shivakumar is reportedly scheduled to travel to Delhi on November 29 to meet Sonia Gandhi — signalling that his faction intends to press the demand formally. Party insiders say that around ten MLAs aligned with Shivakumar were already camping in Delhi, pushing for enforcement of the alleged power-sharing understanding. The so-called pact would have awarded Siddaramaiah the first 2.5 years in office, with Shivakumar expected to take over on November 20, when the halfway mark was reached.
Publicly, the Congress high command has confirmed awareness of the tensions but emphasised that any decision rests with senior leadership. Party president Mallikarjun Kharge said that he, along with Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, would deliberate before resolving the issue. Kharge underlined the importance of unity and suggested a resolution may come before Parliament reconvenes on December 1.
Both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar have publicly denied imminent changes, with Siddaramaiah stating he would abide by the high command’s decision and Shivakumar refusing to discuss internal messages. Shivakumar asserted that the Congress remains united and focused on electoral preparation for 2028’s state assembly and 2029’s national elections.
Behind closed doors, however, the mood appears charged. In addition to ongoing lobbying by Shivakumar’s supporters, senior leaders of the party caution that hasty leadership changes could unsettle the state’s governance at a critical midpoint. While some MLAs insist on the promised rotational scheme, others warn of destabilising local administration.
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