Is the Karnataka chair problem solved? Not quite. On Saturday morning, as per a pre-programmed schedule, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar had breakfast with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, smiling from ear to ear. Then they sat down for a short meeting and appeared before the media together. Both of them said in chorus, “There is no problem between us.” But the unease did not completely disappear. Why?
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The seeds of the Siddaramaiah-Shivakumar conflict were sown in 2023. Congress returned to power in Karnataka with a huge mandate. But the tussle over the chief minister's chair began right then. Who should occupy the seat - the senior Siddaramaiah, or the leader credited with leading the party to victory, Shivakumar? Everybody agreed that Shivakumar had played a key role in the party's win. Yet Siddaramaiah became the chief minister. Rumour has it that the Congress high command had decided to divide the chief minister's term between the two leaders, giving each 2.5 years.
When that period was over, Shivakumar started pressing for the post, but Siddaramaiah was unwilling to step down. Therein began the trouble. A few MLAs went to Delhi to meet the high command, demanding that Shivakumar be made CM. Shivakumar too wanted to meet Rahul Gandhi, but for some reason, that did not happen. When the tension escalated, the high command interfered, making it clear that the issue had to be resolved before the Lok Sabha session started on December 1. It is even said that the leaders were instructed to sort things out over breakfast discussions.
Later, Shivakumar called on Siddaramaiah at his residence. The two had a friendly breakfast together, consisting of idlis and upma. Conversation over the meal was cordial, though formal. Then, they appeared before the media together to drive home the point that all was well in the Congress camp. The two leaders chorused, "There is no problem. We have been together, we are together, and we will remain together."
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Siddaramaiah blamed the BJP and the media for the factional tension, saying, “We discussed the strategy for the 2028 assembly elections. There is no dispute or difference of opinion between us. These are media-created stories. False allegations are being made. BJP will gain nothing from them.” Shivakumar also seemed to steer closer to Siddaramaiah as he pointed out, “What the chief minister says is my word. We are loyal soldiers of the party. We will win in 2028 as well.” He added, “If there is any problem, the high command will resolve it.”
It cannot, therefore, be said now that this conflict is fully resolved. Some political analysts say the unity gestures between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar were not particularly strong either. They feel that the 2023 conflict was suppressed temporarily, and this effort, too, was along the same lines. At any moment, tensions may erupt once again like a volcano.
