Digital Warfare Rocks Karnataka Congress
The simmering tension within Karnataka's Congress leadership erupted into a full-blown digital confrontation on Thursday, as Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah engaged in a cryptic social media duel that laid bare the deepening rift within the state government.
The Morning Salvo That Started It All
At precisely 8:21 AM, DK Shivakumar fired the first shot in what would become a day-long political drama. The deputy chief minister took to X (formerly Twitter) with a bold, red-colored message in all capitals: "WORD POWER IS WORLD POWER". The provocative post featured a silhouette of Shivakumar's photograph and contained a concluding message that stated, "everyone has to walk the talk".
The timing of Shivakumar's social media outburst was particularly significant, coming just days after he publicly disclosed the existence of a secret power-sharing arrangement involving five or six senior leaders that was allegedly brokered following the 2023 assembly elections. Political sources indicated that the X post served as a deliberate reminder to both the Congress high command and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah about the purported assurance to eventually hand over the chief minister's position to Shivakumar.
Siddaramaiah's Counterattack
Hours after Shivakumar's initial post, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah launched a sophisticated counterattack that directly addressed his deputy's messaging. In a carefully crafted response, Siddaramaiah posted his own all-capitals slogan that strategically incorporated and responded to the key terms used by Shivakumar.
"Our word to Karnataka is not a slogan, it means the world to us," Siddaramaiah declared, noticeably highlighting the words "word" and "world" in red ink - mirroring Shivakumar's visual strategy but subverting his message.
The chief minister's post was accompanied by a black-and-white photograph showing his back to the camera as he addressed a massive gathering. His message continued with a clear rebuttal: "A word is not power unless it betters the world for the people." Siddaramaiah then substantiated his claim by listing his government's achievements, noting that 157 out of 165 promises were fulfilled during his 2013-18 term and 243 of 593 commitments have been completed in the current term.
High Command Intervention Looms
As the digital confrontation escalated throughout the day, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, who was in Bengaluru on Thursday, announced that the party leadership would soon summon state leaders to Delhi to resolve the growing crisis. "After going to Delhi, I will call three-four important leaders from the state and discuss the issue," Kharge stated.
The Congress president confirmed that Rahul Gandhi would participate in the crucial discussions, adding that the meeting aims to "put an end to the confusion" surrounding the leadership tussle. When specifically asked whether both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar would be summoned, Kharge responded unequivocally: "We should certainly call them."
Both chief minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy Shivakumar have confirmed their readiness to travel to Delhi upon receiving formal summons. Sources indicate that the meeting is tentatively scheduled for Saturday in the national capital, though the final timing depends on Rahul Gandhi's availability, which remains uncertain.
Denials and Defenses
In a surprising twist nearly twelve hours after his initial post, DK Shivakumar reportedly nudged by the Congress brass, attempted to distance himself from the controversial message. The deputy chief minister denied posting the provocative statement, yet the message remained visible on his official X handle throughout the day.
Adding another layer to the unfolding drama, Siddaramaiah's son, MLC Yathindra, emerged as a leading defender of his father's position. Yathindra dismissed speculation about his father being replaced as "baseless" and asserted that there was no foundation to discussions about an alleged power-sharing arrangement.
"The information I have is that no such formula was drafted," Yathindra stated categorically. "Neither my father nor any minister has ever discussed it. That means no such talk happened."
As Karnataka politics enters a period of heightened uncertainty, all eyes remain on Delhi, where the Congress high command's intervention could determine the future course of the state's leadership and potentially redefine power equations within the party.
