The Leadership Rift
Karnataka Congress has faced persistent rumors of a leadership rift between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar since the party’s 2023 Assembly victory. With a 135-seat mandate, the Congress high command had reportedly approved a 2.5-year power-sharing understanding, placing Siddaramaiah first and Shivakumar next. However, tensions surfaced repeatedly over bureaucratic transfers, cabinet allocations, board appointments, and urban development control, intensified by Shivakumar’s Delhi lobbying post-2024 Lok Sabha setbacks. Flashpoints like the May 2025 PWD clash—where Shivakumar protested unauthorized transfers in his Water Resources portfolio—highlighted internal friction, fueling speculation of a possible mid-term leadership switch.
Amid fiscal challenges, waqf controversies, and BJP-JD(S) opposition narratives, high command interventions managed escalation, yet public perception of a divided Karnataka Congress persisted.
The Breakfast Meet: Displaying Unity
On November 29, 2025, Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar staged a choreographed breakfast meeting at the CM’s Bengaluru residence, arranged under the guidance of Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal. Over upma, idli, and sambar, discussions focused on 2028 Assembly election strategy, upcoming local body polls, and countering BJP-JD(S) alliances.
Following the meal, a joint press conference sought to dismiss lingering rumors. Siddaramaiah declared, “No differences now or in future,” while Shivakumar reaffirmed loyalty, extending invitations for future engagements and underscoring adherence to high command directives under Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi. The optics were carefully managed: smiles, handshakes, and media-friendly gestures aimed to convey a united front to both voters and party cadres.
Political Analysis and Implications
The breakfast meet serves as a strategic optics exercise, consolidating internal stability ahead of the December 8 Assembly session. For Siddaramaiah, aged 82 with health concerns, the event projects control over Lingayat and AHINDA coalitions, ensuring continued influence. Shivakumar, leveraging his Vokkaliga base, positions himself as a loyal yet politically aspirant deputy, retaining leverage for 2028 CM ambitions.
The display signals high command supremacy, emphasizing Delhi’s role in managing internal disputes and preventing opposition exploitation of alleged infighting. By neutralizing the BJP narrative of a divided Congress, the party strengthens its negotiating position in coalition politics and upcoming electoral battles.
Risks remain: pending ₹70,000 crore drought aid, ongoing economic slowdown, and potential local-level discontent could reignite factionalism if expectations are unmet. Additionally, the Vokkaliga vs. AHINDA dynamics continue to underpin leadership calculations, requiring sustained internal consensus.
A Calculated Display of Strength
The Siddaramaiah-Shivakumar breakfast meet was more than a casual gathering; it was a carefully choreographed assertion of unity designed to stabilize Karnataka Congress ahead of critical political milestones. By publicly projecting cohesion, the leadership has reset internal narratives, reinforced high command authority, and signaled to the electorate and opposition that the party remains coordinated despite historical rivalries.
As Karnataka prepares for 2028 elections, this episode underscores the strategic importance of optics in intra-party management, showing that well-timed, symbolic gestures can temporarily bridge deep-rooted divides and maintain electoral momentum.
(With agency inputs)
