Is Karnataka headed for 'November Revolution'? Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar power struggle heats up over CM post

The development has emerged as the Siddaramaiah-led state government nears the completion of 2.5 years.

Speculation has been swirling around that the Karnataka government is heading for a possible dramatic shift in power, what some are calling a “November Revolution”. The term is being used by politicians to describe internal turmoil within the Karnataka government.

A meeting between a group of Karnataka Congress MLAs loyal to Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and party chief Mallikarjun Kharge has fueled rumours of a change of guard in the state. The development has emerged as the Siddaramaiah-led state government nears the completion of 2.5 years.

Why is completing 2.5 years a key factor?

After registering a landslide victory in the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections, the Congress was in a dilemma over who to pick as chief minister -- Siddaramaiah or DK Shivakumar. After much deliberation, Siddaramiah became the CM and Shivakumar his deputy.

However, reports claimed that the Congress had proposed a rotational chief minister formula to pacify Shivakumar. It was said Siddaramaiah had agreed to hand over the post after 2.5 years.

What does Siddaramaiah say?

The CM has dismissed all rumours and called them an "unnecessary debate”. He also dismissed the term “November revolution”. “It is you (media) who coined the term. You cooked up this 'revolution'. Hence, there is no 'kranti' (revolution) or 'bhranti' (confusion). We have been given a five-year tenure to rule. After five years, elections will take place and we will win once again,” he told reporters.

According to News18, Siddaramaiah spoke with Kharge on Friday morning about the image of the Congress and how the government is getting hurt by the frequent talk of leadership change in the state. The CM will also meet Kharge on Saturday in Mysuru.

What does Shivakumar say?

Shivakumar, on Friday, said a section of MLAs went to Delhi to meet the Congress leadership ahead of an impending Cabinet reshuffle and not to press for a leadership change. "All 140 MLAs are my MLAs. Making a group is not in my blood. Both the Chief Minister and I have time and again said we abide by the high command," Shivakumar said.

He also said the CM wanted to reshuffle the Cabinet. “The Chief Minister decided to reshuffle the cabinet. Everyone wants to become a minister, so it is quite natural for them to meet the leadership in Delhi. It is their right. We can't stop them and say no," he said.

What does Congress say?

Congress general secretary Randeep Singh dismissed the buzz around the leadership change, alleging it is a part of the BJP’s campaign against the Congress government. In a post on X, Surjewala said he had recently spoken to Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar. “Had a discussion with Karnataka CM and Deputy CM and they agreed that a decisively defeated and faction ridden Karnataka BJP, along with a section of the media, are designedly running a maligning campaign against Karnataka and its Congress Government,” he said.

Which MLAs went to meet Kharge?

MLAs Gubbi MLA Srinivas, Sringeri MLA TD Rajegowda, Kunigal MLA HD Ranganath, Anekal MLA B Shivanna, Kudachi MLA Mahendra Kallappa Tammannavar, Hoskote MLA Sharat Bachhe Gowda, Nelamangala MLA N Srinivas, Mandya MLA Ravikumar Gowda, and a couple of MLCs went to meet Kharge.