The political atmosphere in Karnataka has been electrified by a late-night meeting between Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi, sparking intense speculation about a potential leadership change within the ruling Congress party.
Jarkiholi's Firm Stand on Leadership
Satish Jarkiholi, a close ally of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and a significant political figure in his own right, has categorically stated that there will be no change in leadership. "There is always leadership inside the party. In any party, a leader is picked, and we have picked Siddaramaiah. It was the same in the past, and today. There won't be any change in that," Jarkiholi declared to reporters on Wednesday.
This statement aligns with arguments made by several Congress leaders who emphasize that there was no indication of any power-sharing agreement when Siddaramaiah was chosen as the Congress Legislature Party leader back in May 2023.
Downplaying the Significance of Meetings
Jarkiholi, who is often considered a potential contender for the chief minister's position himself, attempted to downplay the significance of his meeting with Shivakumar. He revealed that he was among numerous Congress leaders Shivakumar had met recently and emphasized that "there is no need to attribute special meaning to the meeting."
The minister pointed out that he had visited Shivakumar on multiple occasions in the past and the Tuesday night meeting was routine. "D K Shivakumar has claimed the CM post from day one. But the high command gave a chance to Siddaramaiah," noted Jarkiholi, who serves as working president of the Karnataka Congress.
When questioned about leadership discussions within the party, Jarkiholi was unequivocal: "At the party level, there is no discussion at all regarding change. We will discuss it if and when it is raised. There is no discussion about it anywhere in the party."
Congress Unity and Future Strategy
Both leaders emphasized the party's unity and shared objectives. Jarkiholi stated that the Congress's primary focus is retaining power in Karnataka in 2028. He described his meeting with Shivakumar as part of strategic planning to develop a roadmap that brings all sections of society together.
Shivakumar, the Karnataka Congress chief, also minimized the importance of the meeting while avoiding direct questions about his chief ministerial ambitions and references to "good news from Delhi." "I don't want to speak about anything in front of the media. We will discuss it within the four walls of the party," he stated.
The leadership debate, which began shortly after Siddaramaiah became chief minister in 2023, has reached its peak in recent days. Siddaramaiah completed two-and-a-half years as chief minister in November 2025, prompting increased pressure from Shivakumar's supporters for a leadership change.
Senior Congress leader B K Hariprasad weighed in on the matter, noting that the selection of chief minister was a joint decision between the party high command and the CLP. "If there was an agreement on power-sharing, then it should have been informed during the CLP meeting," he stated, echoing sentiments expressed by Siddaramaiah's economic adviser Basavaraj Rayareddy.
As the political drama continues to unfold, all eyes remain on the Congress high command's eventual decision regarding the leadership question in Karnataka.
