New Delhi: The long-simmering power struggle within the Karnataka Congress has erupted into a high-stakes political drama, as rival factions descend on the national capital to influence the future of the Chief Minister’s office. With May 2026 widely rumoured to be the “transition month,” the battle between the camps of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar has entered a decisive phase.
In a strategic move to safeguard their interests, senior ministers Satish Jarkiholi and HC Mahadevappa rushed to Delhi to meet the party High Command. The purpose of their visit is to deploy the “AHINDA card”, the powerful sociopolitical coalition of Minorities, Backward Classes, and Dalits that serves as the Congress party’s electoral backbone in Karnataka.
The AHINDA leaders reportedly reminded the leadership that the movement, originally founded by Devaraj Urs and revitalised by Siddaramaiah, has spent 25 years as the party’s primary support base. Their message was clear that no leadership decision can be made without the explicit consent of the AHINDA bloc.
The ‘Dalit CM’ ultimatum
Adding a new layer of complexity to the succession race, the AHINDA faction has introduced a “Plan B” to block a straightforward transition to DK Shivakumar. Senior leader KN Rajanna, a close confidant of the CM, has publicly demanded that if Siddaramaiah is to step down, his successor must be a Dalit Chief Minister.
“I am committed to the call for a Dalit CM after Siddaramaiah,” Rajanna stated, warning the High Command that continued uncertainty over leadership is paralysing governance. While he noted that Siddaramaiah is a disciplined soldier ready to follow the High Command’s orders, the insistence on a Dalit successor creates a significant hurdle for the Shivakumar camp.
The Shivakumar camp’s May expectations
On the other side of the divide, supporters of DK Shivakumar, who also serves as the KPCC President, are increasingly vocal about a rumoured power-sharing agreement struck during the 2023 Assembly election victory. The DKS faction is reportedly “expecting good news” regarding a leadership change this coming May, viewing it as his rightful turn to lead the state.
Internal purge or discipline?
The tension is further exacerbated by recent disciplinary actions against minority leaders within the party. K Abdul Jabbar was removed as the minority wing chief and suspended from the party, Naseer Ahmed was relieved of his duties as the CM’s political secretary and BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan, the Housing Minister, was recently reprimanded for alleged anti-party activities.
Shivakumar has denied allegations of a “conspiracy” or targeting specific communities, asserting that these decisions were made solely by the High Command based on AICC reports. “I have no personal involvement in this; party discipline is paramount,” Shivakumar maintained.
The road to May
As the AHINDA leaders push for a Dalit face and the DKS camp pushes for the 2023 “deal” to be honoured, the Congress High Command faces a delicate balancing act. With Siddaramaiah maintaining a calculated silence and his loyalists intensifying their pressure in Delhi, Karnataka’s political landscape is braced for a seismic shift as May approaches.