The Congress may have successfully resolved the tricky issue of leadership in Kerala, but the tussle between Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy D. K. Shivakumar appears to have returned to haunt the party high command.
Pushed to the sidelines amid the election hullabaloo in four key states and a Union Territory, the issue now seems to be back on the burner, with speculation resurfacing over a possible leadership change in Karnataka.
Siddaramaiah has reportedly sought a meeting with the Congress high command, with party president Mallikarjun Kharge informing him that he would be called to Delhi soon. Siddaramaiah is believed to be seeking discussions on a possible Cabinet reshuffle.
While Siddaramaiah has been pushing to fill vacant ministerial posts and make some changes, a rejig at this stage could potentially weaken Shivakumar’s hopes of a leadership transition. Observers say that if Siddaramaiah succeeds in further consolidating his hold over the administration and the legislature party, it could spell curtains for Shivakumar.
With supporters of Kerala Congress leader V. D. Satheesan ensuring that their leader emerges as the party’s face in the state, Shivakumar’s supporters too have intensified their campaign for him. Sources say the high command’s preference for Satheesan over senior leaders K. C. Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala was influenced by several factors, including his performance as Leader of the Opposition, being the go-to guy for the party in difficult situations and strong grassroots connect—factors that also apply to Shivakumar, they add.
Shivakumar also appears to have conveyed to the leadership that any decision should be taken only after addressing the so-called “2.5-year promise” — a reference to speculation over a rotational chief ministership arrangement in Karnataka promised at the time of the formation of the government.
The current situation appears similar to that in November, when intense speculation over a possible leadership transition triggered political uncertainty within the state unit. The Congress, however, managed to contain the crisis without giving any definitive resolution. But the successful settlement of the Kerala leadership issue, influenced by grassroot support for Satheesan, now seems to have unsettled the delicate political balance in Karnataka, with the battle between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar seemingly intensifying once again.