Amid rising speculation of a power tussle within the Karnataka Congress, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has made a strong and public appeal to party legislators, clearly stating that he neither wants support nor recommendations for any leadership role. Addressing the media on Tuesday, Shivakumar emphasized that his sole focus is to reinforce discipline within the Congress and prepare the party for victory in the 2028 Assembly elections. “I don’t want any recommendation of any legislators. My duty is to give more strength to the discipline of the party,” he declared, effectively shutting down ongoing murmurs about a potential bid for the Chief Minister’s post.
Shivakumar’s remarks come in response to growing chatter about a leadership change, sparked in part by Congress MLA HA Iqbal Hussain’s claim that Shivakumar might soon be elevated to the Chief Minister’s position. These comments gained traction following a report by NDTV which quoted Hussain saying that over 100 Congress MLAs are in favor of a change in leadership. However, Shivakumar rebuffed these claims, asserting that the party should not be distracted by internal rivalries. He cautioned that the Congress high command would act against those making divisive public statements, stating firmly, “I don’t want anyone to support or shout at me, we will discuss and sort out the problems.”
Senior Congress leaders, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala, have also dismissed any talk of a leadership change. Surjewala, who has been meeting legislators in Karnataka, clarified that his consultations were unrelated to leadership matters and reaffirmed that no transition is under consideration. This is not the first time that tensions between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar have surfaced since the Congress assumed power in 2023, with both leaders having previously been contenders for the CM’s chair. However, with Shivakumar’s latest statement, he appears to be prioritizing party stability and sending a clear message that discipline and collective responsibility outweigh individual aspirations.
