Editorial: Karnataka politics — familiar script, predictable ending

Siddaramaiah’s resignation as Karnataka Chief Minister in favour of DK Shivakumar marks the culmination of a long-running Congress power struggle

With the resignation of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to pave the way for his long-time rival, DK Shivakumar, to take over the reins, the curtains have finally come down on a political drama that followed a hackneyed script, with predictable twists and turns and behind-the-scenes manoeuvres. Ever since the Congress came to power in the 2023 Assembly elections, the internal power struggle has dominated media headlines, putting the party high command in a tight spot. Karnataka Congressmen are divided into two camps, with supporters of Siddaramaiah — a popular OBC leader with socialist credentials — rooting for him to complete his full term while backers of Shivakumar — a resourceful loyalist to the Gandhi family with unmatched organisational skills — believe it’s “now or never” for their leader to occupy the coveted post. An increasingly restless Shivakumar has been staking claim to the chief ministership, citing a purported rotational power arrangement. For the last three years, the simmering friction between the fragile egos of these two ambitious leaders was left unaddressed in the hope that the warring groups wouldn’t precipitate matters till the next Assembly elections, due in 2028. Moreover, the grand old party’s ability to negotiate with powerful regional leaders has weakened considerably. This is due to a series of electoral debacles that the Congress has suffered in recent times. Finally, the party has decided in favour of a change of guard at a crucial moment. From the start of this term, it was clear that Siddaramaiah, the party’s only OBC Chief Minister, would not enjoy a free run or absolute control, as he did between 2013 and 2018.

Karnataka is central to the Congress’ southern scheme of things, considering that the BJP is a significant player in the State. The party top brass needs to ensure that its gamble strengthens the State party unit rather than sharpening the differences between the rival camps. Siddaramaiah’s exit appears to validate speculation about a rotational power-sharing arrangement, though never officially acknowledged. The onus would now be on Shivakumar to prioritise good governance over the next two years and prepare the party for the 2028 poll battle. Siddaramaiah’s tenure — the longest for any Chief Minister — was marked by its distinct focus on welfare schemes for the underprivileged sections. Rising from the ranks, he is credited with building a formidable coalition of OBCs, Dalits and minorities. A big challenge for the Congress is to retain the support of these communities who have remained loyal to Siddaramaiah. The outgoing CM’s reluctance to accept a central role has made the situation more complicated. During his rule, free rice distribution, milk for schoolchildren and financial aid for poor Muslim women’s marriages were among the schemes that reshaped Karnataka’s welfare landscape, benefiting millions of households. While these schemes were hallmarks of his first tenure, he started the now-popular guarantee schemes in his second term.