After late-night meeting with D K Shivakumar, Jarkiholi backs Siddaramaiah as ‘leadership change’ debate hits crescendo in Karnataka

This was along the lines of an argument put forth by a section of Congress leaders that there was no indication of ‘power-sharing’ between the CM and his deputy, when the former was picked as the leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) back in May 2023.

Often considered a contender for the coveted CM post himself, Jarkiholi said that he was among the many Congress leaders Shivakumar had met over the past few days. “There is no need to attribute special meaning to the meeting,” he said, pointing out that he had visited Shivakumar several times in the past and the Tuesday meeting was along the same lines.

“D K Shivakumar has claimed the CM post from day one. But the high command gave a chance to Siddaramaiah,” said Jarkiholi, working president of the Karnataka Congress and a Cabinet colleague of Shivakumar.

Responding to a question, Jarkiholi said, ”At the party level, there is no discussion at all regarding change. We will discuss it if and when it is raised. There is no discussion (about it) anywhere in the party.”

Later in the day, a picture of the minister hosting a few Congress MLAs for lunch also surfaced.

Don’t want to discuss anything before media, says Shivakumar

Shivakumar, the Karnataka Congress chief, also downplayed the significance of the meeting with Jarkiholi, while ignoring multiple questions regarding his contention for the CM post and “good news from Delhi”.

“I don’t want to speak about anything in front of the media. We will discuss it within the four walls of the party,” he said.

Jarkiholi said the Congress’s aim is to retain power in Karnataka in 2028. “We had a strategy meeting for a road map to take all sections together. I always keep meeting. He is my colleague and senior leader of the party,” he said.

On a group of MLAs pushing for his appointment as CM amidst the leadership debate, he said, “No one wants that (change in leadership). They want to bring the Congress back to power (in 2028).”

During the day, B K Hariprasad, senior Congress MLC and in charge of the Haryana Congress, pointed out that the selection of CM was a ‘joint decision’ between the party high command and the CLP.

“If there was an agreement (on power-sharing), then it should have been informed during the CLP meeting,” he said, echoing the sentiments of Siddaramaiah’s economic adviser and MLA Basavaraj Rayareddy.

“If there is such a dispute, the high command will decide on that. Till then, everyone has to wait,” Hariprasad added.

As comments on the issue flew thick and fast, MLA HC Balakrishna, who was among the group of MLAs who had travelled to Delhi, said that they had gone to Delhi “to enquire whether there was a power-sharing agreement. Our objective was to get clarification,” he said.

The debate and speculation regarding power-sharing, which began soon after Siddaramaiah became CM in 2023, with Shivakumar emerging as an alternate power centre, has reached a crescendo in the last few days. Siddaramaiah completed two-and-a-half years as CM this November 2025, and Shivakumar supporters have been pushing for his elevation.

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