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Speculation on Leadership Shift in Karnataka Congress

Friday, May 29, 2026
5 min read
Speculation on Leadership Shift in Karnataka Congress

Speculation about a leadership shift in the Karnataka Congress is really picking up speed again. People are talking about a formula involving multiple deputy chief ministers, you know, ones representing different communities in the state.

Talks are apparently just starting, but there’s a real push inside the party to consider something like that. One deputy chief minister from the Dalit community, one from the Minority , Lingayat , and OBC groups. It’s all moving around.

This chatter comes right before this big breakfast meeting. Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar are meeting up at the Chief Minister’s residence, ‘Kaveri,’ in Bengaluru on Thursday morning. And everyone is watching this meeting closely, naturally. It’s all tied up in the leadership speculation.

The Siddaramaiah camp is also pushing hard for Satish Jarkiholi to take the top spot in the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee .

Sources suggest Jarkiholi is being seen as someone who can carry forward Siddaramaiah’s AHINDA legacy. That social coalition, the one with minorities, backward classes, and Dalits—it’s been central to Siddaramaiah’s politics. Supporters think Jarkiholi could help solidify that base inside the party structure.

Things followed a big Congress meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday. Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Randeep Singh Surjewala, KC Venugopal, plus Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar were there.

But the news agency ANI reported that this proposed breakfast meeting just kicked off more discussions in Karnataka Congress . Even though the party leadership keeps brushing off any talk of an immediate change.

Venugopal, speaking after that Delhi session, insisted the focus was strictly on the Rajya Sabha elections and the Legislative Council polls.

“Today,” he said, “we had a detailed meeting with Kharge and Rahul Gandhi. Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar, Randeep Singh Surjewala, and I were there. The whole discussion was only about the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections and Council Elections of Karnataka.”

He also said reports about leadership changes were just “speculation.” They promised announcements for the Rajya Sabha and Council candidates would come out with those for other states.

Yet, the speculation keeps going. PTI reported that the Congress leadership is probably going to sort out the Karnataka leadership issue after the Rajya Sabha elections next month.

Sources claim the party top brass, Kharge and Rahul Gandhi included, held long talks with Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, both alone and together. They might make a call on a change of guard once the polls are over.

It seems the leadership backing Shivakumar is strong. A change is apparently coming soon.

Meanwhile, there’s this other angle. The Shivakumar camp has been pressing Siddaramaiah, 77, to step down from the CM post. There were reports that a formula involving a central role and a Rajya Sabha seat was discussed to accommodate the veteran leader.

But Siddaramaiah apparently didn't aGree to that proposal.

The real friction point, though, is Shivakumar’s long-standing demand. He wants to be Chief Minister, based on what his side calls a promise from the 2023 Assembly elections. His supporters keep pointing to the age factor in Siddaramaiah’s case too. It’s messy.

Written by Gree News Team — Senior Editorial Board

Gree News Team covers international news and global affairs at Gree News. Our collective of senior editors is dedicated to providing independent, accurate, and responsible journalism for a global audience.

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