As the Congress high command prepares for a crucial round of deliberations on Karnataka’s political future, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar have been summoned to Delhi. Their meeting with the party’s top leadership is scheduled for Tuesday at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s residence, which will also be attended by Rahul Gandhi.
Sources told India Today TV that the Karnataka leadership question and a broader political reset ahead of the 2028 Assembly elections are expected to dominate the discussions. The meeting comes amid growing indications within the party that the high command is considering a recalibration of governance and organisational strategy in the southern state.
WHY NOW?
According to sources, the Congress leadership believes a political and governance reset is necessary to sharpen administration, improve service delivery and prevent drift ahead of the next electoral cycle. The timing is also significant as Shivakumar was reportedly assured earlier that the leadership issue would be revisited after the Kerala elections.
SCENARIO 1: REJIG WITHOUT REGIME CHANGE
One option under consideration is a cabinet reshuffle without a change in leadership. Under this scenario, the Congress could attempt a social and political balancing exercise with stronger Ahinda representation, the removal of underperforming ministers, and a restructuring aimed at improving governance optics. Ahinda is the Kannada acronym for Alpasankhyataru (Minorities), Hindulidavaru (Backward Classes), and Dalitaru (Dalits).
Sources said Shivakumar’s inputs are likely to be accommodated, making it a negotiated reset rather than a unilateral exercise.
SCENARIO 2: SHIVAKUMAR TAKES CHARGE
The second, and politically more sensitive, option is a leadership transition in Karnataka. Party insiders said Shivakumar remains a strong contender for the chief minister’s post, with discussions centring on a possible transition that could see Siddaramaiah moved to the Rajya Sabha.
Such a move would likely be accompanied by a major cabinet restructuring to accommodate leaders aligned with both camps.
SCENARIO 3: KHARGE THE WILD CARD ENTRY
A third, and less likely, possibility involves Mallikarjun Kharge himself emerging as a consensus candidate if negotiations between factions reach a deadlock.
Sources said the veteran leader has long harboured aspirations of leading Karnataka, though such a move would significantly alter the Congress’s national leadership structure and require major recalibration by Rahul Gandhi and the party high command.
PARALLEL TRACK: ELECTIONS AND APPOINTMENTS
The political churn also coincides with crucial electoral appointments in the state. Three Rajya Sabha seats are due for elections, with nominations closing on June 8, followed by elections to nine Legislative Council seats. Candidate selection for both is expected to trigger fresh rounds of internal negotiations and factional balancing.
The power tussle in Karnataka has intensified over the past few months as the Congress government completed half of its term in the state. MLAs and leaders loyal to DK Shivakumar have publicly backed him for the Chief Minister’s post, claiming that a half-term power-sharing formula was promised to him when the party came to power in 2023. Shivakumar, however, has largely remained guarded on the issue, repeatedly saying that “time will answer” such questions.
The issue gained fresh momentum after the Congress returned to power in neighbouring Kerala, triggering renewed discussions within the Karnataka unit over leadership and the party’s future strategy.
Against that backdrop, Tuesday’s Delhi meeting is being viewed within party circles as more than a routine review, with the Congress leadership expected to walk a tightrope while balancing caste equations, factional interests and preparations for the 2028 Assembly elections.
– Ends
Published On:
May 25, 2026 20:55 IST
