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Ever since Congress swept to power in Karnataka in 2023, rumours have persisted that a “rotational CM” arrangement was informally worked out between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar
Congress chose Siddaramaiah as chief minister, while Shivakumar settled for the deputy chief minister post, but not before intense negotiations in Delhi.
The Congress high command’s decision to summon Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to Delhi has once again reignited speculation over whether the party is finally preparing for a leadership transition in Karnataka; a question that has haunted the state government almost since the day it was formed in 2023.
The latest round of speculation began after Siddaramaiah confirmed he had been called to Delhi by Congress general secretary KC Venugopal. “I have been summoned to Delhi but I don’t know the subject of the discussion. I have a meeting scheduled at 11am tomorrow [Tuesday]. Venugopal called me to attend the meeting. Speculations will always be there,” he said.
Shortly afterwards, Shivakumar, the other pole of power in Karnataka Congress, gave an equally cautious response. “I don’t know what Surjewala told you. If he asks me to go, I will go to Delhi. Whenever party calls, we have to go. I don’t want to comment on leadership change. It’s not my job,” he said, referring to Congress in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala.
The Deal That Never Officially Existed
Ever since Congress swept to power in Karnataka in 2023, rumours have persisted that a “rotational chief minister” arrangement was informally worked out between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar.
The party never officially acknowledged such an agreement. Yet the speculation never truly disappeared because both leaders emerged from the election with strong and competing claims to the top post.
Siddaramaiah brought mass appeal, AHINDA social coalition backing, and administrative experience. Shivakumar, meanwhile, was credited with organisational management, resource mobilisation, and holding the Congress together during its years in opposition.
Eventually, Congress chose Siddaramaiah as chief minister, while Shivakumar settled for the deputy chief minister post, but not before intense negotiations in Delhi.
Remarks Kept The Rumours Alive
What keeps reigniting the succession debate is that leaders from both camps periodically drop suggestive remarks.
Earlier this year, Shivakumar had said he would abide by whatever decision the Congress high command takes, a formulation widely interpreted as keeping his claim alive without openly challenging Siddaramaiah.
At different points, Congress MLAs close to Shivakumar have publicly spoken about “honouring commitments” allegedly made during government formation.
Siddaramaiah loyalists, however, have consistently pushed back. The chief minister himself has repeatedly asserted that he would complete a full five-year term. Only months ago, Siddaramaiah dismissed leadership change chatter outright, insisting there was no vacancy for the CM’s post.
The Congress high command too has alternated between ambiguity and denial, neither fully burying the rumours nor confirming them.
Why The Timing Matters Now
This latest Delhi meeting comes at a politically sensitive time for the Karnataka government.
The Congress leadership has been trying to manage factional tensions ahead of future electoral battles while also preventing instability in one of the party’s most important states.
Karnataka is currently Congress’s biggest state government in South India and remains crucial to the party’s national narrative against the BJP. But the balancing act has become harder as competing ambitions within the state unit continue surfacing.
The opposition BJP has repeatedly tried to exploit these tensions, portraying the Congress government as internally divided and distracted by succession politics.
At the same time, Shivakumar’s supporters increasingly argue that the deputy chief minister has waited patiently and deserves his turn if an understanding truly existed.
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