Fresh political tensions have surfaced within the Karnataka Congress soon after voting concluded in the by-elections to the Davanagere (South) and Bagalkote Assembly constituencies, with signs of a renewed power struggle between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar.
The developments come amid ongoing speculation over a possible leadership transition, which has been under discussion for several months, with Shivakumar widely seen as a contender for the top post. However, recent moves by leaders aligned with Siddaramaiah suggest a coordinated effort to delay or derail any such change.
Senior leader B. Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan has initiated a campaign highlighting alleged “humiliation of minorities,” a move being viewed as a strategic push to consolidate support against any leadership reshuffle. At the same time, around two dozen MLAs have reportedly travelled to Delhi, seeking a cabinet reshuffle rather than a change in leadership, signalling internal resistance to the transition.
The leadership change, which was earlier believed to have the backing of the party high command, has faced repeated delays. Political observers note that the groundwork to stall the transition appeared to have begun even before the bypolls were announced.
The situation in Davanagere South has further exposed internal divisions. The seat fell vacant following the death of senior leader Shamanur Shivashankarappa, and while the party leadership backed his grandson as the candidate, Zameer Ahmed Khan supported an alternative name. The disagreement escalated when Abdul Jabbar entered the fray as an independent candidate before eventually withdrawing his nomination after persuasion from other leaders.
Despite the withdrawal, reports of muted campaigning and alleged indirect support to rival candidates have raised concerns within the party. The controversy led to Abdul Jabbar stepping down from his position in the Minority Cell, which was subsequently dissolved by Shivakumar with a promise of reconstitution. Naseer Ahmed, another close associate of Zameer and advisor to the Chief Minister, has also offered to resign following allegations of anti-party activities.
Meanwhile, a group of nearly 25 MLAs, largely considered loyal to Siddaramaiah, have reached Delhi to press for a cabinet reshuffle and seek ministerial positions. While publicly maintaining neutrality on the leadership question, their move is being interpreted as an attempt to reinforce Siddaramaiah’s position and counter any push for change at the top.
As the Congress leadership weighs its next steps, the internal dynamics in Karnataka suggest that the question of leadership transition remains far from settled, with competing factions intensifying their efforts behind the scenes.
