Beneath-average participation in Karnataka Congress’s abroad tour along with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, rallies of social gathering MLAs along with deputy CM DK Shivakumar, sharp interactions between the CM and union minister and Janata Dal (Secular) chief HD Kumaraswamy, and Robert Vadra’s go to to Bengaluru. These developments maintain the political pot boiling over a altering of the guard within the state forward of the March 6 presentation of the state price range.
Officers stated a bunch of 20-22 MLAs, largely allied with Siddaramaiah, had deliberate an unofficial tour of Australia and New Zealand on February 18 to research dairy practices, however solely 12 MLAs participated, leading to a suboptimal final result for the CM’s group.
The poor participation of his MP supporters within the abroad tour, which was seen as an oblique present of power by Siddaramaiah, resulted in a few of the challengers to the CM, together with supporters of Shivakumar, going out to point out their power as soon as once more.
The dinner, held in Bengaluru on February 26, was reportedly attended by 18 MLAs to rejoice the birthday of Congress MLAHC Balakrishna from Shivakumar’s camp.
Sources stated the assembly included a proposal to take a staff of about 40 MLAs on a tour of New Delhi within the coming days to show the rising energy of Shivakumar’s camp. Earlier, a bunch of round 12 MLAs from Shivakumar’s camp had visited Delhi in useless in November 2025 to enchantment to the social gathering excessive command on Shivakumar’s behalf.
“You probably have private calls for or aspiration for a ministerial place, you’ll be able to go to Delhi. However there is no such thing as a have to go to Delhi to bat in my place,” the deputy CM stated on Friday, whereas asserting that the February 26 supporters’ assembly was not a present of power.
“It was not a present of power. Some MLAs journey overseas for leisure or research excursions, some go to Delhi, others get collectively for dinner. What they do for private causes has nothing to do with the social gathering,” stated Shivakumar, who has set his sights on the CM seat for the reason that Congress got here to energy in Could 2023.
Earlier, when Siddaramaiah’s supporters introduced plans to embark on an abroad tour, the CM had stated there was no downside so long as the MLA did it at his personal expense.
Relating to the dinner held by Shivakumar’s supporters, senior Congress minister Satish Jarkiholi, who is taken into account a supporter of Siddaramaiah, stated, “All teams are holding dinners, we’re holding conferences, they’re holding conferences. Now we have no unique contract to carry dinners.”
CM vs Kumaraswamy
Forward of the dinner on February 26, Mr Siddaramaiah sparred together with his Bharatiya Janata Celebration ally and Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy over which social gathering can be the “most democratic” in Karnataka when selecting a CM.
The difficulty started after Siddaramaiah penned an article in a neighborhood newspaper to commemorate World Social Justice Day on February 20, stating that the Congress is the one social gathering that offers equal alternative to all castes to grow to be CMs, not like the Bharatiya Janata Celebration and the Japan Celebration, which prohibit the selection to the dominant castes within the state.
“My 40 years of political life was by no means a path of roses, however all the time a path of stones and thorns. Many leaders carried out many insidious plots to complete me politically. With the blessings of the individuals, I overcame all of them. I’m properly conscious that this isn’t a plot towards me. It’s a plot towards these of you who place confidence in me,” Siddaramaiah stated within the article, apparently referring to his dedication to the social gathering. deposed him.
“Many of the assaults my opponents are making towards me, my caste of start can be one in every of their causes,” Siddaramaiah stated, referring to his Kuruba OBC group.
Kumaraswamy, who hails from the influential Vokkaliga group, refuted Siddaramaiah’s claims on social media, saying the CM was not giving political house to Dalits and different OBC leaders.
“It is rather disturbing to listen to repeated lectures on social justice from somebody who has constantly undermined succesful leaders within the social gathering. Had conscience prevailed, Mallikarjun Kharge would have grow to be CM earlier than you. As a substitute, inside rivals had been systematically eradicated,” Kumaraswamy stated.
To this, Siddaramaiah stated, “Mr. Kumaraswamy and his revered father (former prime minister) Dev Gowda are actually not casteists. They’re rhetorically anti-caste. Extra importantly, they’re household loyalists. For them, their caste is nothing however a vote financial institution.” “Fathers and sons are pushing solely one another apart others within the political enviornment, stopping even leaders of the identical caste from rising,” he alleged.
“In Karnataka, Vokkaligas, Lingayats and backward castes grew to become CMs below the Congress. It’s also the Congress that acknowledged me, who belongs to a backward caste, and gave me the chance to grow to be CM for the second time,” he stated. “I can confidently say that if somebody from the Dalit group turns into CM at some point, it’s going to solely be potential via the Congress.”
In his rebuttal, Kumaraswamy dared the Congress to say the Vokkaliga CM’s identify. “If the Congress is making Vokkaligas the CM, should not he step down as speaker instantly? It is time to present some like to Vokkaligas,” stated Kumaraswamy, who hails from the identical Vokkaliga as Shivakumar and is presently the primary challenger to Siddaramaiah’s CM put up.
In Karnataka, for the reason that Nineteen Fifties, there have been seven CMs from the dominant Lingayat group, six from Vokkaligas, three from OBC teams and two Brahmins, however thus far no Dalits.
Pitch to Dalit CM
There have additionally been renewed requires the appointment of a Dalit CM following recent stress from Shivakumar for the CM put up and heated exchanges between Siddaramaiah and Kumaraswamy.
“With Siddaramaiah presently serving as CM, there is no such thing as a cause to not take into account a Dalit CM sooner or later. Circumstances and alternatives need to come up. The Congress excessive command and Siddaramaiah should establish an appropriate Dalit chief to be appointed as CM,” stated Social Welfare Minister HC Mahadevappa, a supporter of Siddaramaiah and a Dalit chief.
State Dwelling Minister G. Parameshwara, who’s a Dalit, additionally reiterated that he ought to be thought of for the CM put up if there’s a change, however stated the choice ought to be taken by the Congress excessive command.
“I’ve labored twice to convey the social gathering to energy. Might I’ve accomplished it with out capability? I’ve labored as deputy CM, may I’ve accomplished it with out capability? You can not query my capability… However alternatives will come up and choices need to be taken,” Parameshwara stated. He’s additionally reported to have quietly held talks with Kumaraswamy not too long ago.
Robert Vadra of Bangalore
Amid the furor over the CM’s put up, the go to of Congress chief Priyanka Gandhi’s husband Robert Vadra, who is alleged to be near Shivakumar, to Bengaluru has additionally stirred the political pot.
Vadra reportedly arrived on a enterprise go to on Wednesday. Nevertheless, sources stated he met a outstanding businessman and minister within the Congress authorities who is taken into account near the CM.
He instructed a neighborhood tv station on Friday that he would replace his household on what he had collected in Bangalore. He added that Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar had been “working collectively within the curiosity of the individuals”.
