So, why was Rahul in town?

HL: So, why was Rahul in town?

 

Strap: Rahul Gandhi’s brief stopover midweek was enough to reignite speculation that simmering power tussle within Congress is far from settled

Blurb:

“What speculations? It’s only media speculations. You are the ones creating speculations; the raising of these questions itself is baseless. Where is the confusion in the party?

Siddaramaiah, Chief Minister

 

Byline: Ravi Kiran

Is the Karnataka Congress really done wrestling over the Chief Minister’s chair? Or has the lull merely masked another round of political shadowboxing? The latest visit by Rahul Gandhi has ensured that the question refuses to go away.

At midweek, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha landed at Mysuru’s Mandakalli airport, where he was received by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy, D.K. Shivakumar. The optics were cordial, even warm.

Within minutes, Gandhi boarded a flight to Gudalur near Ooty to attend a private event ahead of Pongal. But the brief stopover was enough to reignite speculation that the simmering power struggle within the Karnataka Congress is far from settled.

Siddaramaiah was quick to douse the fire. “There is no development as such. There is nothing of this sort going on in the party,” he said, dismissing talk of any churn over the Chief Minister’s post. Yet, for a controversy that has refused to die for months, the denials have begun to sound familiar.

The issue has been brewing beneath the surface of Karnataka politics for some time, with rival camps loyal to Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar publicly brushing aside “speculation” even as whispers grow louder.

 

‘What speculation’

At the heart of the controversy is a perceived “arrangement” within the state Congress that Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar would take turns occupying the top post for two-and-a-half years each. The party has never officially acknowledged such an arrangement, but the belief persists, and continues to fuel political intrigue.

Rahul Gandhi’s quick visit has only added to the buzz. Asked directly about the renewed chatter, Siddaramaiah turned the tables on the media. “What speculations? It’s only media speculations. You are the ones creating speculations; the raising of these questions itself is baseless. Where is the confusion in the party?” he asked, insisting that there was no unrest within the Congress ranks.

The Chief Minister was equally dismissive of remarks made by Congress MLA Iqbal Hussain, who had claimed that Shivakumar would become Chief Minister either on January 6 or January 9. “They are baseless,” Siddaramaiah said bluntly. “Either I should talk about it, or the Deputy CM should speak about it. We are the better persons, and we should know what’s happening. We should talk, right?”

When questioned about Shivakumar’s repeated references to “keeping one’s word”, Siddaramaiah struck a familiar note of deference to the party leadership. “Despite the statements, ultimately, the decision of the Congress High Command will prevail,” he said. He went a step further, alleging that Shivakumar had never made any such statements and that these were “media’s creation.”

 

‘Prayers will never go to waste’

But Shivakumar’s own words have ensured the speculation stays alive. Speaking earlier at the Udyami Vokkaliga Expo 2026, the Deputy Chief Minister said he was confident the party “will take a decision on me going forward.”

The statement was widely interpreted as a clear assertion of his chief ministerial ambitions. Striking an emotional note, Shivakumar also invoked his personal struggles. “You have all prayed for me when I was in jail. I am also aware that you are praying for me now and you are wishing me well. I believe prayers will never go to waste,” he said, remarks that resonated strongly with his support base and added another layer to the political messaging.

Behind the scenes, the churn appears far from over. Sources say Shivakumar, who also serves as the state Congress president, recently held a 45-minute conversation with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.

 

Unfinished business

According to party insiders, the internal tensions could spill into the open after the Sankranti festival, once the holiday calm fades. Shivakumar has reportedly been seeking an appointment with Rahul Gandhi for some time and is hopeful of a private conversation during a meeting of Congress observers appointed for Assembly elections in various states.

Gandhi is chairing the meeting in Delhi, and Shivakumar is said to be keen on meeting him separately. Sources close to him indicate that he may travel to the national capital on January 16 and again on January 22.

Kharge, for his part, has urged Karnataka leaders to resolve the matter internally. Responding to this, Siddaramaiah said the leadership had already engaged. “We have spoken to each other. We held breakfast meetings. The state MLAs aren’t talking now, and only the media is speculating,” he insisted.

Yet, for all the denials, the political atmosphere suggests unfinished business. With carefully worded statements, strategic silences and high-profile meetings in the offing, the Karnataka Congress seems trapped in a familiar loop of public calm, private churn.

The chair may look steady for now. But in Karnataka politics, appearances have a way of deceiving.