Key Highlights
- Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar engaged in a public “word power” social media exchange over alleged rotational CM promise
- Congress government completed 2.5 years in power, triggering speculation about leadership transition based on 2023 power-sharing arrangement
- Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge to convene Delhi meeting with Rahul Gandhi and both Karnataka leaders to resolve crisis
Opening Overview
The Karnataka CM row between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar has intensified dramatically, with both leaders exchanging pointed messages on social media over an alleged rotational chief ministership agreement. The Karnataka CM row escalated this evening when Siddaramaiah posted a sharp rebuttal to Shivakumar’s “word power is world power” statement, signaling deepening fissures within the state’s Congress leadership. The Karnataka CM row has now reached a critical juncture as the government completed its 2.5-year mark on November 20, 2025, with Shivakumar’s supporters claiming this milestone triggers a promised leadership transition.
At the heart of the Karnataka CM row lies a disputed understanding from May 2023, when the Congress swept the state assembly elections with 135 seats out of 224, marking their biggest victory by vote share since 1989. While Team Shivakumar insists that Congress central leadership promised a rotational arrangement after two and a half years, Siddaramaiah has consistently denied any such agreement. The Karnataka CM row has mobilized MLAs loyal to both camps, with Shivakumar’s supporters making trips to Delhi to press the party high command for leadership change.
The Karnataka CM row took a dramatic turn when Shivakumar shared a cryptic post emphasizing that “keeping one’s word is the greatest strength in the world,” widely interpreted as a reminder to Congress leadership about the alleged commitment. Shivakumar later backtracked, claiming his remarks were made in the context of Constitution Day rather than as political messaging, though few found this explanation credible. The Karnataka CM row now awaits resolution from Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, who has announced plans to convene a comprehensive meeting in Delhi with Rahul Gandhi and both Karnataka leaders.
Karnataka Congress power battle just got more spicier
— Mahesh Vikram Hegde 🇮🇳 (@mvmeet) November 27, 2025
This is 2 top congress leaders of Karnataka,
in a silent tug of war for the CM's chair
On one side,
DK Shivakumar reminds everyone of the 2.5 year deal
On the other side, Siddaramaiah counters – People gave us a mandate for… pic.twitter.com/dCUevyKK82
The Social Media Battleground
The Karnataka CM row exploded into public view through a carefully choreographed exchange on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). DK Shivakumar fired the opening salvo at 8:21 AM with a bold post featuring “word power is world power” in red capital letters, accompanied by text emphasizing that “everyone has to walk the talk”. The Karnataka CM row intensified hours later when Siddaramaiah countered with his own capitalized message, deliberately highlighting the words “word” and “world” in red: “Our word to Karnataka is not a slogan, it means the world to us”.
In his detailed response to the Karnataka CM row, Siddaramaiah wrote pointedly: “A Word is not power unless it betters the World for the people”. The Karnataka CM row message continued with a direct assertion of authority: “The mandate given by the people of Karnataka is not a moment, but a responsibility that lasts five full years”. Siddaramaiah leveraged the Karnataka CM row platform to showcase his government’s achievements, specifically mentioning the five guarantee schemes—Shakti, Gruha Lakshmi, Yuva Nidhi, Anna Bhagya and Gruha Jyoti—as evidence of fulfilling promises to citizens.
The Karnataka CM row’s social media dimension revealed strategic positioning by both leaders. Shivakumar’s original post included a silhouette image and emphasized that whether “a judge, president or anyone else including myself, everyone has to walk the talk”. The Karnataka CM row messaging from Siddaramaiah’s side stressed “compassion, consistency, and courage” in governance, subtly suggesting his deputy lacked these qualities. Despite Shivakumar’s later claims that his post was “fake” or misinterpreted, the Karnataka CM row had already captured statewide attention and forced Congress central leadership to intervene.
| Aspect | Siddaramaiah Position | DK Shivakumar Position |
|---|---|---|
| Leadership Duration | Complete five-year term (2023-2028) | Rotational arrangement at 2.5 years |
| 2023 Agreement | No rotational promise made | Central leadership assured rotation |
| Governance Record | Five guarantee schemes implemented | Kept word through party service |
| Delhi Strategy | Ready to visit if summoned | Supporters lobbying high command |
The 2023 Election Context
The Karnataka CM row has its roots in the landslide Congress victory of May 2023, when the party won 135 seats with a 43.76% vote share, the highest since 1989. The Karnataka CM row began immediately after the Election Commission declared results on May 13, 2023, as both Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar emerged as strong contenders for the chief minister position. The Karnataka CM row at that time saw intense negotiations, with Congress MLAs loyal to Shivakumar reportedly receiving assurances from central leadership about a rotational arrangement.
According to sources close to the Karnataka CM row negotiations, Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi personally persuaded Shivakumar to accept the deputy CM position with the promise of rotation after 2.5 years. The Karnataka CM row understanding, according to Shivakumar’s camp, was never formally documented but constituted a verbal commitment from the party’s highest leadership. Three Congress MLAs loyal to Shivakumar confirmed this version of the Karnataka CM row genesis, stating “it was by the high command” that the arrangement was agreed upon.
The Karnataka CM row resolution in 2023 saw Siddaramaiah sworn in as Chief Minister on May 20, 2023, with DK Shivakumar taking the Deputy CM role. The Karnataka Chief Minister row appeared settled when both leaders jointly announced the implementation of Congress’s five guarantee schemes in their first cabinet meeting. However, the Karnataka Chief Minister row’s current explosion suggests the fundamental disagreement over leadership succession was merely postponed rather than resolved.
High Command Intervention
The Karnataka Chief Minister row has now compelled Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge to step in personally, announcing that he will convene a comprehensive meeting with all stakeholders. The Karnataka CM row resolution meeting will include Rahul Gandhi, Siddaramaiah, and DK Shivakumar, with Kharge emphasizing that “no decision will be made without collective consultation”. The Karnataka CM row intervention represents a critical test for Congress leadership, as Karnataka remains one of the party’s few major state governments.
When questioned about the Karnataka Chief Minister row, Kharge stated: “I will call everyone and have a discussion. Rahul Gandhi will also remain present in that discussion. Other members will also remain present. CM and Dy CM will also remain present”. The Karnataka Chief Minister row meeting is expected to take place when Sonia Gandhi returns to Delhi on November 29, 2025, according to senior party sources. The Karnataka CM row has put the Congress high command in a delicate position, balancing the need to maintain government stability against honoring alleged commitments made during government formation.
Both protagonists in the Karnataka Chief Minister row have expressed willingness to travel to Delhi if summoned. Siddaramaiah stated he was “ready to travel if summoned,” while addressing the Karnataka CM row. Meanwhile, Shivakumar’s response to the Karnataka CM row summons was: “If they call, we will go. Both he and I will discuss and go”. The Karnataka CM row has also seen Siddaramaiah reportedly preparing supporters to lobby central leaders if they decide to enforce a leadership change, marking a shift from his earlier strategy of ignoring the issue.
Governance and Political Stakes
The Karnataka Chief Minister row occurs against the backdrop of the Congress government’s implementation of five major welfare guarantees that were central to their 2023 electoral victory. The Karnataka CM row’s governance dimension involves the Shakti scheme (free bus travel for women), Gruha Lakshmi (monthly assistance to women heads of households), Yuva Nidhi (stipends for unemployed youth), Anna Bhagya (food grain support), and Gruha Jyoti (free electricity up to 200 units). The Karnataka CM row has not disrupted these schemes’ implementation, though critics have questioned coverage gaps and eligibility restrictions.
The Karnataka CM row carries significant implications for Congress’s 2024 Lok Sabha performance and the 2028 Karnataka assembly elections. The Karnataka CM row resolution will signal whether Congress can manage internal democracy and succession planning, or whether leadership disputes will continue undermining governance. The Karnataka CM row also tests the party’s ability to balance the aspirations of powerful regional leaders while maintaining cabinet cohesion.
Politically, the Karnataka CM row presents risks for both leaders. Siddaramaiah’s hardening stance in the Karnataka CM row could alienate Shivakumar’s substantial support base among MLAs and the powerful Vokkaliga community. Conversely, Shivakumar’s aggressive push in the Karnataka Chief Minister row risks appearing overly ambitious and potentially destabilizing the government. The Karnataka Chief Minister row’s resolution by Kharge and Gandhi will likely shape power dynamics not just in Karnataka but across Congress-ruled states.
Final Perspective
The Karnataka Chief Minister row represents more than a personal rivalry between two ambitious leaders; it embodies the Congress party’s ongoing struggle with internal power-sharing mechanisms and succession planning. The Karnataka Chief Minister row’s intensity reflects the high stakes involved in controlling one of India’s most economically significant states, particularly as Congress seeks to rebuild its national footprint. The Karnataka Chief Minister row outcome will either demonstrate mature conflict resolution through the party’s institutional processes or expose deep organizational weaknesses that opponents can exploit.
As the Karnataka CM row heads toward a decisive Delhi meeting, both camps have mobilized their respective support bases while maintaining public pledges of party loyalty. The Karnataka CM row has already consumed considerable political bandwidth that could have been directed toward governance and opposition to the BJP. Whether Kharge and the Gandhi family can broker a solution to the Karnataka CM row that preserves government stability while addressing Shivakumar’s ambitions remains the critical question facing India’s grand old party.
