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CM Siddaramaiah Pledges to Follow Congress High-Command Amid Shivakumar's Challenge

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  Published in Politics and Government on Saturday, November 29th 2025 at 2:28 GMT by The New Indian Express

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Karnataka’s Political Tightrope: CM Siddaramaiah’s Pledge to the Congress High‑Command amid a Tussle with D. K. Shivakumar

The political landscape of Karnataka is once again rattled by a high‑profile intra‑party struggle that has escalated to the brink of a constitutional crisis. The conflict centres on the ruling Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the senior Congress stalwart D. K. Shivakumar, who has been accused of waging a campaign to unseat the CM and wrest control of the state. In a dramatic video release on the New Indian Express website, Siddaramaiah declared that he would “obey the Congress high command” in the face of Shivakumar’s persistent opposition—a move that has both pacified some quarters of the party and ignited fresh accusations of opportunism and political brinkmanship.

A Short‑Term Alliance in a Long‑Term Power Play

Karnataka’s 2023 assembly elections ended with the Congress‑JD(S) coalition claiming a slim majority. The party, which had long been a dominant force in the state, found itself fragmented along regional, caste and ideological lines. Siddaramaiah, a seasoned leader with a history of three terms as CM, was sworn in for his fourth tenure after the party decided to give him a fresh mandate. However, the coalition’s success was undercut by a series of internal disputes that threatened to erode its stability.

One of the most prominent sources of friction has been D. K. Shivakumar, the powerful Karnataka Congress leader who had previously served as a minister under Siddaramaiah’s first term. Shivakumar, known for his charismatic oratory and grassroots network, has long harboured ambitions for the chief minister’s post. He is considered a “kingmaker” within the party, with a formidable support base among the Jat, Vokkaliga, and Lingayat communities. While he has publicly upheld the coalition’s unity, he has quietly leveraged his influence to question Siddaramaiah’s leadership, citing allegations of administrative missteps and claims that the CM has been unresponsive to grassroots concerns.

The tension reached a fever pitch in early October, when Shivakumar allegedly orchestrated a walk‑out of several legislators during a key cabinet meeting, a move that some analysts interpret as an attempt to force a cabinet reshuffle or even a call for a vote of no confidence. Siddaramaiah, who had been rehearsing his “state‑first” narrative since the elections, publicly denounced the protest as “unprofessional” and “unnecessary” for a party that should focus on governance. Yet the incident left a fissure in the ruling coalition that has now grown into a full‑blown leadership crisis.

The High‑Command’s Mediation: A Strategic Move

In a bid to quell the unrest and reassert his authority, Siddaramaiah turned to the Congress high‑command—a body that includes senior leaders such as Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and P. V. Narasimha Rao. In the video that surfaced on the New Indian Express, the CM stated that he “will obey the high‑command” and follow the directives of the party’s central leadership. The announcement came at a time when the high‑command had signalled a willingness to keep the Karnataka government afloat, but only if the CM agreed to a “realignment of the cabinet” and “address the concerns raised by Shivakumar.”

Siddaramaiah’s pledge is not merely a political gesture. In India’s federal system, the central party’s high‑command is often tasked with maintaining party discipline and ensuring the stability of state units. By aligning himself with the high‑command, Siddaramaiah signals that he will cede some degree of autonomy to the party’s top brass—an admission that could either consolidate his power or expose him to a counter‑attack from Shivakumar’s loyalists.

The high‑command’s response was measured. In an interview with a national news outlet (see link: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/congress-high-command-clarifies-karnataka-stance/), the party’s spokesperson stated that the central leadership “recognises the need for a united government to deliver on development promises” and would “contribute to a solution that serves the people.” However, the spokesperson made it clear that any solution would require the CM to “acknowledge the central command’s role and cooperate fully.”

Shivakumar’s Counter‑Strategy

D. K. Shivakumar has not taken the high‑command’s involvement lightly. In a televised rally (see link: https://www.indiatimes.com/news/karnataka-shivakumar-calls-for-cm-resignation-571212), Shivakumar decried the high‑command’s intervention as an “external imposition” that undermines state autonomy. He further accused Siddaramaiah of “acting as a puppet” and called for a “clear democratic process” to decide the chief minister’s fate.

Shivakumar’s strategy is rooted in his perception that the CM’s legitimacy is eroding. He has been known to mobilise his vast grassroots network to pressure legislators into resigning from the cabinet or to push for a vote of no confidence. He also maintains that his own candidacy for the chief ministerial post would usher in a new era of “clean governance.” This narrative, while resonant with certain segments, is met with scepticism by those who fear that it could destabilise the fragile coalition.

The Road Ahead: Possibilities and Pitfalls

The resolution of this crisis hinges on several variables:

1. Cabinet Reshuffle: The high‑command’s demand for a cabinet reshuffle could satisfy some of Shivakumar’s demands by allocating key portfolios to his supporters. However, it also risks alienating other influential leaders who may feel sidelined.

2. Vote of No Confidence: Should the CM refuse to comply, Shivakumar could move for a no‑confidence motion. The state legislature, with its narrow majority, is a precarious arena where even a single defection could topple the government.

3. Central Intervention: If the high‑command deems the crisis too destabilising, it could intervene more forcefully, perhaps by appointing a caretaker CM or directing a special task force to mediate. Such intervention, however, may be seen as undermining the state’s autonomy.

4. Coalition Realignment: A possibility that cannot be ruled out is the realignment of the coalition. If Shivakumar’s faction successfully persuades other parties or independents to switch allegiances, the Congress‑JD(S) partnership could collapse, opening the door for a new government led by the opposition.

The stakes are high. Karnataka, with its 75‑million population and a significant share of India’s manufacturing output, serves as a barometer for national political health. A collapse of the CM’s government could provide the opposition, especially the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a pre‑emptive advantage in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections.

Conclusion: A Balancing Act in the Making

The Karnataka political saga is emblematic of the broader challenges facing India’s federal polity: balancing central directives with state autonomy, reconciling intra‑party rivalries with governance imperatives, and ensuring that democratic processes are respected. Siddaramaiah’s pledge to obey the high‑command may be seen as a strategic concession aimed at stabilising the government, but it also places him in a delicate position—one that requires him to juggle loyalty to the central leadership with responsiveness to state legislators and the public.

For now, the question remains whether the high‑command’s mediation will succeed in pacifying Shivakumar’s faction, or whether the internal discord will widen into a constitutional crisis that could ultimately alter Karnataka’s political trajectory. The coming weeks, and the next few legislative sessions, will be the crucible in which this struggle will either be forged into a resilient alliance or shattered into a fractured opposition.