Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Thursday stated that time will determine whether he will become the chief minister of the state, as speculation over a possible leadership change in the Congress government intensifies.
Shivakumar's Statement on CM Post
Speaking to reporters in Chamarajanagara in response to a question about his potential elevation to the chief minister's position, Shivakumar remarked, "Time, muhurta will answer." This cryptic response comes amid growing expectations within the Congress party that the high command may soon decide on a leadership change and a long-pending Cabinet reshuffle, as the Siddaramaiah-led government completes three years in office.
Speculation Over Leadership Change
There is increasing anticipation that the Congress leadership may summon both Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, who also serves as the Karnataka Congress president, to New Delhi to address the ongoing power tussle over the chief minister's post. When asked about his recent temple visits and prayers amid the speculation, Shivakumar said, "You are there as God. People are God."
Supporters of Shivakumar have repeatedly pushed for his elevation, citing a reported power-sharing arrangement that was reached when the government was formed after the Congress won the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections. The leadership tussle within the ruling party has intensified since the government crossed the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20, 2025. Speculation over a possible change in leadership continues amid reports of a rotational chief minister formula between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar.
Home Minister's Comments
Meanwhile, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara stated that the Congress high command would clarify the issue if any such matter is under consideration. "Unnecessarily, why will they? Who has raised the question of change? Yesterday, the Deputy CM himself clarified that he has not asked for any change. From where this question has come? Who has asked such a question?" Parameshwara told reporters in Bengaluru.
"There is high command in the party and they will decide what needs to be done and when. Each person making statements to the media will not achieve anything. The high command has to decide. What is the use of us discussing the proposal to change the chief minister or to continue him? We are not the ones who are going to decide on the matter sitting here," he added.
Parameshwara further said that, to his knowledge, no specific timeframe had been fixed for Siddaramaiah when he assumed office as chief minister. "We are not aware of it. Neither the general secretary nor anyone from the high command had told us anything about such a thing," he said.
Demand for Dalit CM
Responding to senior Congress MLA KN Rajanna's recent remarks suggesting that Parameshwara should be made chief minister in case of a leadership change, the home minister said, "He (Rajanna) is from our district, he is my friend. We studied together. Naturally he has affection for me and asked for an opportunity for Tumakuru. I don't find anything wrong in it." There has also been a parallel demand within sections of the party for a 'Dalit CM' in Karnataka, with Parameshwara emerging as one of the frontrunners in such discussions.
