Karnataka's Power Struggle: Internal Conflicts, Delays in Governance, and Future Political Repercussions

The Karnataka Congress government is experiencing increasing levels of tension. While Siddaramaiah is allegedly unwilling to resign, supporters of D.K. Shivakumar demand that he should now assume the Chief Minister's role as previously promised.

This continuous internal strife is not promising for the party following the defeat in Bihar. Ordinary people continue to suffer in the meantime, particularly in Bengaluru, where daily living is made tough by potholes, damaged roads, and never-ending traffic congestion.

Shubhanshu Shukla, India's second astronaut, recently made a hilarious quip that went viral online: "Navigating space is easier than getting through Bengaluru traffic." According to data made public by traffic officials in the middle of 2025, Bengaluru's daily traffic jams span around 190 kilometers.

Daily one-way travel time has increased by over 16% since 2024. An embarrassing statistic for such a significant tech hub is that every commuter in the city spends about 117 hours a year stuck in traffic. The ongoing power struggle between Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah shows no signs of ending, despite the state government's claims that it is working to fix the matter.

Rahul Gandhi has often emphasized the Constitution as his top priority in an effort to communicate that its integrity would not be compromised under any circumstances. In the 2024 general election, Congress gained more seats while the ruling party remained at 240, which many attribute to this concentration. Yet almost a year and a half later, it appears that the ruling side is gradually reclaiming ground on this narrative.

Prior to the Bihar elections, Rahul Gandhi campaigned on issues of inconsistencies in voter records and warned of manipulation, but the tactic did not yield the expected outcomes. Caste representation was another important issue he promoted, particularly in the lead-up to the Bihar election, although it too failed to produce meaningful electoral results. Even this ideological tenet is now in danger of being undermined by the Karnataka Congress's internal strife.

D.K. Shivakumar was largely regarded as a major factor in the party's comeback to power during the 2023 Karnataka triumph. Many expected him to be selected Chief Minister, but seniority and social-representation reasons supported Siddaramaiah. Thus, Shivakumar continued to hold the second position even after achieving election success.

Subsequently, Shivakumar openly alluded to the existence of a secret agreement among a few leaders, which is thought to include the rotating two-and-a-half-year CM tenure structure. Now that Siddaramaiah has finished that time, Shivakumar's supporters are calling for a change in leadership. Siddaramaiah is reportedly hesitant, though.

Shivakumar no longer wants to keep quiet, as seen by his growing interactions with fans, MLAs visiting Delhi, and special prayer ceremonies held at his home. According to reports, he has attempted to speak with Rahul Gandhi about the internal issue and has asked Sonia Gandhi for a time to meet in person. He also plans to travel to Delhi shortly.

Congress now faces a crucial task: maintaining its strongest state government while bouncing back from the disappointing results of the Bihar election, despite efforts to provide clarity. The party has already lost power due to past miscalculations in states like Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan.

Sidelining 63-year-old Shivakumar might have more significant political repercussions if Karnataka's leadership problem is not resolved, particularly as other parties are reportedly keeping a close eye on him and making subtle moves.

The party may resolve the conflict before December 1, according to sources. Making Shivakumar Chief Minister while allocating other important positions to OBC, SC, ST, and minority leaders is one potential solution that is being discussed in order to retain balance in representation and preserve reservation-centric messaging.