A fierce contest for the top post in Karnataka’s ruling party is intensifying as a gathering of legislators backing Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar have travelled to New Delhi to press their claim, following spiritual endorsements from a group of Naga sadhus. Meanwhile, a contrasting campaign has emerged pushing Mallikarjun Kharge as a candidate to become the state’s first Dalit chief minister.
Pressure on the party high command has increased as at least six legislators, including H. C. Balakrishna and Nayana Motamma, reached Delhi to advocate for Shivakumar’s elevation. This follows an earlier trip by around ten of his supporters after the government completed its halfway mark, reigniting hopes within his camp.
Supporters of Shivakumar point to what they believe was a power-sharing agreement forged in 2023 with the incumbent Siddaramaiah, arguing that the deputy chief minister’s turn at the helm is overdue. A contingent of Naga sadhus visited Shivakumar’s residence to offer blessings and publicly urged him to assume the top post — a spiritual gesture that his camp views as a symbolic boost.
However, the push for Shivakumar is counterbalanced by growing calls for Kharge, propelled by a coalition of civil society figures, former legislators, activists and journalists. An open letter addressed to senior party leadership highlights the long absence of a Dalit home-state chief minister since Karnataka’s formation, arguing that Kharge’s appointment would redress decades of under-representation.
Siddaramaiah has appealed for clarity and urged the high command to settle the matter, asserting that remaining party legislators are free to express their preferences, but only the central leadership can decide the outcome. He has indicated willingness to abide by whatever decision emerges.
The friction also highlights deeper concerns about electoral strategy ahead of the 2028 assembly elections. Some within the party fear that a hasty decision may alienate key social coalitions and fracture the voter base, potentially giving adversaries an opening.
As Karnataka Congress waits for a final signal from the central leadership, the tug-of-war between traditional patronage, caste representation, and political symbolism underscores both the complexity and high stakes of the internal contest.
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