Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar meet over breakfast

BENGALURU: The breakfast meeting between chief minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar appears to have offered a temporary breather in the ongoing Karnataka Congress leadership tussle, giving the party high command some breathing space to decide the next move.Party insiders indicated that Siddaramaiah has personally urged Shivakumar to take over as chief minister after the 2028 polls, signalling his intent to complete the current term before handing over the baton. “Be the face of the party, win the election and become CM,” the message, they said, is clear.This, according to them, has made the transition all the more difficult. According to sources, the temporary arrangement also requires Shivakumar to maintain a low profile until the high command comes out with a planned transition of power.Political commentator Vishwas Shetty said, “The truce seems more of a tactical pause than a long-term solution. We are assuming the high command came up with the breakfast plan for optics and to buy time to resolve the leadership tussle without involving any media attention.”A senior Congress functionary also added, “The high command should first decide whether to replace Siddaramaiah or not, and it all now hinges on the word they gave to Shivakumar after the 2023 assembly polls landslide. Shivakumar does not have the numbers to force a change immediately, and the party is aware that dislodging a seasoned leader like Siddaramaiah could backfire politically.”Shivakumar, the sources said, must rely on Siddaramaiah to honour his word—a tricky proposition in Karnataka politics, which has a history of last-minute surprises.MN Patil, another political commentator, noted, “Without the active involvement of the high command, any power-sharing formula can’t be easy. Unlike BJP, Congress cannot take harsh decisions as it can backfire on them and they need to mediate effectively; otherwise, it could further weaken the party’s prospects.”Caste and community dynamics further complicate the leadership equation. Siddaramaiah remains a prominent face of the Ahinda formation—an alliance of minorities, backward classes, and dalits—while Shivakumar represents the OBC Vokkaliga community. Balancing these constituencies is crucial for Congress to retain its electoral strength.Shetty said, “Any misstep in this delicate balancing act could alienate significant voter blocs. That’s why the truce, while politically convenient for now, may not survive intense electoral and internal pressures.”With both leaders maintaining a tactical pause, the ball is firmly in the high command’s court.