Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is slated to have breakfast with his Deputy on Tuesday amidst continued buzz about a power tussle in the state. DK Shivakumar had recently claimed he would not take part in “factional politics” or “backstabbing” and later insisted that he was “working as a team” with the CM. Meanwhile the BJP contended that the rift was far resolved — with seven to eight contenders in the fray for the Chief Ministerial post.
“Me and the CM continue to work together as a team. I have invited the Hon’ble CM for breakfast tomorrow to discuss and strengthen our collective efforts to deliver on our promises to Karnataka,” Shivakumar wrote on X.
The two leaders had also met on Saturday morning at the home of Siddaramaiah to discuss “Karnataka’s priorities and the road ahead” over idli-sambar and upma. The interaction was seen as an attempt to calm tensions arising from the internal power struggle — with both leaders later reaffirming cohesion and unity within the Congress party.
7 to 8 contenders for CM post
Karnataka BJP President B Y Vijayendra claimed on Monday that the administrative machinery has “completely collapsed” amid intensifying competition for the post of chief minister. He told reporters there were at least seven to eight senior legislators and ministers in the race.
“The competition for the chief minister’s chair is intensifying day by day. According to information I have, at least seven to eight senior legislators and ministers in the ruling party are competing to somehow become the CM,” PTI quoted Vijayendra as telling reporters.
What is the ‘power sharing agreement’?
Shivakumar’s supporters have been calling for him to be made Chief Minister for the remaining 2.5 years of the Congress-led government, which has fuelled a political divide within the party. The Congress party had allegedly struck an informal agreement after winning the Karnataka Assembly elections to change Chief Ministers after 2.5 years. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar would have been elevated to the top role around November 2025 under this deal.
The internal disagreement over the CM post has pushed both leaders to meet repeatedly, attempting to avoid a full-blown crisis. The Saturday meeting had sought to resolve the impasse and Shivakumar is expected to travel to Delhi for a meeting with the Congress Congress high command in the near future.
