Karnataka Congress Urges High Command on CM Rotation Speculation

Speculation over a potential leadership change in Karnataka's Congress government intensified this week, as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar both called on the party's central leadership to resolve the issue amid reports of an alleged power-sharing agreement. The controversy, centered in Bengaluru and New Delhi, stems from internal party dynamics following the government's halfway mark through its five-year term on November 20.

The rumors trace back to a purported 2023 understanding between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, reportedly limiting the chief minister's tenure to 2.5 years before a rotation. Supporters of Shivakumar, including a group of six legislators who traveled to New Delhi on Sunday night, have pressed the high command for clarity and a possible shift. Additional MLAs, numbering around 10 last week, met All India Congress Committee president Mallikarjun Kharge to urge an end to the uncertainty. Party sources indicated that Shivakumar himself sought meetings with senior leaders, including Sonia Gandhi, upon her return to the capital on November 29, while a batch of his loyalists aimed to influence the decision ahead of the...