Karnataka's Political Drama Intensifies as Top Leaders Clash
The political landscape in Karnataka witnessed a dramatic escalation on Thursday as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy, DK Shivakumar, engaged in a public verbal confrontation that has exposed the deepening rift within the state's Congress leadership. The power struggle, which has been simmering beneath the surface, has now burst into the open through cryptic social media messages that have set political circles abuzz.
The Cryptic Social Media Exchange
In what appears to be a carefully crafted response to his deputy's assertions, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah took to X (formerly Twitter) to deliver a message that has been interpreted as a direct challenge to Shivakumar's ambitions. The CM emphasized that "The mandate given by the people of Karnataka is not a moment, but a responsibility that lasts five full years."
He further elaborated on his government's achievements, specifically highlighting the five guarantee schemes – Shakti, Gruha Lakshmi, Yuva Nidhi, Anna Bhagya, and Gruha Jyoti – as evidence of his administration's commitment to the people.
Earlier in the day, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar had set the stage for this exchange with his own social media post that stated, "keeping one's word is the greatest strength in the world! Word power is world power." This statement was widely seen as a reference to the speculated power-sharing agreement between the two leaders.
The Background of the Power Struggle
The timing of this public confrontation is particularly significant as the Congress government completed half of its five-year term on November 20. According to political observers, this milestone has intensified the behind-the-scenes maneuvering for the chief minister's position.
While Siddaramaiah has been consistently asserting his intention to complete the full five-year term as chief minister, Shivakumar has made no secret of his desire to occupy the coveted post. The current exchange of remarks represents the most public manifestation of this ongoing tussle that dates back to 2023 when both leaders competed for the CM's chair after the Congress party's impressive victory in the state assembly elections.
The political drama unfolded on Thursday, November 27, 2025, with both leaders choosing social media as their battleground. Siddaramaiah's sharp retort to Shivakumar's "word power" assertion – "A word is not power unless it betters the world for the people" – has been particularly noted for its political messaging.
What This Means for Karnataka Politics
This public airing of differences between the two most powerful leaders in Karnataka's Congress government has several important implications:
- The stability of the state government could be affected by the ongoing power struggle
- The Congress party's high command might need to intervene to maintain unity
- The administration's focus on governance could be diverted by internal politics
- The opposition parties are likely to capitalize on this visible rift within the ruling party
Political analysts suggest that Siddaramaiah's emphasis on completing five years and his government's implementation of welfare schemes is aimed at strengthening his position both within the party and among the electorate. Meanwhile, Shivakumar's references to "keeping one's word" are being interpreted as reminders about the understanding that supposedly led to the current power-sharing arrangement.
As this political drama continues to unfold, all eyes are on the Congress leadership in Delhi and how they will handle this delicate situation. The coming days are likely to see more developments in this ongoing saga that has captured the attention of political observers across the country.
