Congress high command races to resolve Karnataka leadership tussle
New Delhi: The tussle over the Chief Minister’s post in Karnataka has intensified, posing a major challenge for the Congress high command as it struggles to balance power between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar.
The leadership conflict, rooted in the much-discussed power-sharing agreement of 2023, has resurfaced sharply after the Congress government completed two-and-a-half years in office on November 20.
AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday confirmed that the issue would be resolved soon. He said that Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and he would deliberate and arrive at a final decision. Reports indicate that the Congress leadership aims to settle the matter before the Winter Session of Parliament begins on December 1.
#WATCH | Delhi: On Karnataka political turmoil and speculations around CM post, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge says, "Only the people there can say what the Government is doing there. But I would like to say that we will resolve such issues. People in the High Command – Rahul… pic.twitter.com/tw0keLQ43y
— ANI (@ANI) November 26, 2025
Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi is said to have responded to Shivakumar through a brief WhatsApp message, telling him, “Please wait. I will call you.” The message has further fueled speculation about a possible change in leadership.
Speaking to ANI, Kharge assured that the high command would step in to address the internal conflict. “Only the people of the state can comment on the government’s performance. But I can assure you that we will resolve these issues. Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and I will discuss this together. We will provide whatever intervention is needed,” he said.
Adding to the political churn, Shivakumar on Tuesday made a striking revelation, stating that “there was a secret agreement between four to five people” regarding the power-sharing arrangement—an admission that has intensified debates within political circles.
With growing pressure from factions within the party and rising public speculation, the Congress leadership is now racing against time to restore order in the Karnataka unit. Whether the high command will opt for continuity or push for a leadership transition remains the biggest question ahead of the Winter Session.
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