Fresh speculation over a possible leadership struggle within the Indian National Congress in Karnataka resurfaced on Wednesday after posters and cut-outs projecting Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar as the state’s future Chief Minister appeared outside the Congress office in Bengaluru.
The development has reignited political chatter about internal competition within the ruling Congress government, especially after recent remarks by Prime Minister Narendra Modi targeting the party’s leadership dynamics in Karnataka.
Large banners praising Shivakumar and portraying him as the next Chief Minister drew attention outside the party office, triggering renewed debate over whether tensions continue to exist within the state Congress leadership.
The issue gained momentum days after Modi alleged that the Chief Minister’s position in Karnataka was “shaking” and claimed similar political instability existed in Kerala and Punjab.
Addressing BJP workers in Bengaluru earlier this week, the Prime Minister accused the Congress government of spending more time handling internal disputes than focusing on governance.
“For the past three years in Karnataka, instead of resolving people’s problems, most of the government’s time has been spent on addressing internal conflicts,” Modi had said while criticising the ruling party.
The Prime Minister further alleged that uncertainty over leadership and power-sharing arrangements continued to affect the functioning of the Karnataka government.
However, Shivakumar strongly dismissed the allegations and denied any instability within the state administration.
Speaking to reporters during a visit to Raichur district, the Deputy Chief Minister said there was no crisis over leadership in Karnataka and rejected suggestions that the government was under pressure.
“No chairs are wobbling in Karnataka. All chairs are stable. I don't know what the Prime Minister is seeing,” Shivakumar remarked while responding to Modi’s criticism.
Political observers believe the sudden appearance of the posters could intensify discussions around succession politics within the Karnataka Congress, although party leaders have repeatedly maintained that the government remains united under the current leadership.
The Congress government in Karnataka has frequently faced speculation regarding an alleged power-sharing understanding between Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister factions, though no official confirmation of such an arrangement has ever been made publicly.
