A fresh wave of political tension has emerged in Karnataka as Congress leaders await the high command’s final decision on a possible change of chief minister before the December 1 Parliament session. Amid growing speculation, Rahul Gandhi has finally responded to Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar after a week of continuous attempts from the Karnataka leader to speak with him. According to party sources, Rahul replied through a brief WhatsApp message saying, “Please wait, I will call you,” signalling that discussions are underway but decisions will not be rushed. The exchange has added fuel to the leadership debate that has been intensifying for weeks.
Rahul Gandhi has been holding a series of closed-door meetings in Delhi, including discussions with Karnataka leaders Priyank Kharge and Sharath Bacchegowda. The conversations covered sensitive political matters such as allegations of vote chori in Aland, the involvement of the Chilume NGO in voter revisions, and updates regarding the newly launched KEO AI PC device and the SIR platform. Sources claim Rahul Gandhi questioned both leaders in detail about the election-related allegations and later held a one-on-one meeting with Priyank Kharge, which lasted nearly 20 minutes. Rahul is reportedly unhappy with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah publicly denying any power-sharing formula and asserting he would complete the full five-year term, a stance the high command views as unhelpful. Rahul is said to have noted that discussions of power transfer should not be dismissed in public and assured that he would speak to both factions soon.
DK Shivakumar, meanwhile, is preparing to travel to Delhi on November 29 to meet Sonia Gandhi, though he has stated that his visit will depend on ongoing programmes in Karnataka. He maintains that he will follow whatever decision the high command announces. The postponement of the final call has left Congress leaders anxious, especially as the party works to stabilise internal equations before the upcoming Parliament session. Shivakumar has several pending matters requiring clarity, including the setup of 100 new Congress offices across Karnataka and MLC seat discussions. Within the party, many see the recent sequence of meetings as indicative of shifting power. Priyank Kharge reportedly briefed the Chief Minister immediately upon returning to Bengaluru and later met Shivakumar, a move interpreted as a possible advantage for the deputy CM.
Sources say the Congress is exploring a balancing formula to avoid alienating key social groups if a leadership change is implemented. Under this plan, if Shivakumar is elevated to Chief Minister, the KPCC President’s role and a Deputy Chief Minister position may be allocated to leaders from OBC, SC/ST and minority communities. The party aims to prevent any fragmentation of its voter base during a sensitive leadership transition. As of now, both camps await Rahul Gandhi’s final call, with the state’s political atmosphere growing more intense by the day.
