Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, Deputy CM Shivakumar
NEW DELHI: The ongoing tension over the Karnataka chief minister’s post resurfaced on Tuesday after DK Shivakumar’s brother said Rahul Gandhi had assured the deputy chief minister that a decision would be taken at an appropriate time.Former MP DK Suresh described Shivakumar as a committed party functionary and said the Congress leadership, including Gandhi, had asked him to exercise restraint while assuring him that the matter would be resolved in due course.“The party has already asked him to be patient. Rahul Gandhi, during the meeting in Mysuru, also said that an appropriate decision would be taken at the right time,” news agency PTI reported him as saying.He also said that Shivakumar’s approach was guided by the need to keep all 140 Congress legislators together and maintain stability in the government. Emphasising that political authority requires perseverance, he added, “In the interest of the party and legislators, and with the goal of keeping all 140 legislators together, he is patiently waiting for the party’s decision.”With an eye on the 2028 assembly elections, Suresh also stressed that unity within the Congress would be critical. “He is also the party president and should maintain discipline first, which he is following diligently,” he said refering to Shivakumar.The leadership churn in Karnataka intensified after the Congress government completed the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20, 2025. The speculation centres on a reported power-sharing understanding between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar at the time of government formation in 2023. Shivakumar has previously said discussions on the issue were held with the Congress high command and that while a decision had been taken, its timing is yet to be finalised.Suresh indicated that the upcoming legislative session, scheduled from January 22 to 31, could be a reference point, after which the party leadership’s stand may become clearer. Meanwhile, chief minister Siddaramaiah said he would travel to New Delhi if called by the Congress high command to discuss the leadership issue. He reiterated that any such engagement would depend on a formal summons from the party leadership. “I will go if I am called by the Congress high command,” he said.Siddaramaiah also sought to shift focus to governance, noting that the joint session of the state legislature would be held from January 22 to 31, alongside a special session on MGNREGA. He said preparations for the 2026–27 state budget would begin after the session, with official ANI sources indicating that the budget is likely to be presented in March. Siddaramaiah had previously said he intends to present his 17th state budget next year, adding to his record as finance minister.