The power tussle in Karnataka between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who is also the president of the party in the state, seems to have reached a crescendo, with some ministers and party legislators openly demanding a change of guard in the government and the party.
The Siddaramaiah camp has revived its demand to appoint deputy chief ministers from other castes and a new state party chief citing the ‘one man, one post’ rule. The Shivakumar camp has called for the replacement of the chief minister, reminding the high command of the power sharing formula.
At the heart of the conflict is a ‘secret pact’ for power sharing mooted by the Congress high command in May 2023 to placate the top two contenders for the chief minister’s post after the party wrested power from the BJP. After a thumping victory, 135 of 224 seats, a bitter battle broke out between the two leaders, forcing the party leadership to arrive at the peace formula to end the stalemate. Accordingly, Siddaramaiah, a mass leader and Kuruba leader who holds sway over the AHINDA (minorities, dalits and backward classes) voters, became chief minister and Shivakumar, a Vokkaliga strongman, was appointed deputy chief minister. Shivakumar was also allowed to retain the state party chief’s post.
The demand for multiple deputy chief ministers has been on since then, and it gained momentum prior to the Lok Sabha polls. Cooperation Minister K.N. Rajanna urged the party leadership to appoint one deputy chief minister each from Lingayats, dalits and the minorities. But the party leadership put the foot down and the factions were forced to put up a united front. After the Lok Sabha polls, however, the demand resurfaced. Shivakumar loyalists see this move as an effort to diminish his stature in the party. The strategy, they say, is to dissuade him from staking the claim to the top post by weakening his position in the party.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
A golden girl
One of India's most formidable beauties passed away earlier this month. The odd thing is she would absolutely hate this obituary; she hated being written about and avoided publicity for all of her nine decades. Indira Aswani was 93 when she died. But anyone who encountered her, even briefly, was in such awe of her grace and poise, and one could not but remember her forever.
The interest in wine is growing delightfully in India
The renowned British wine writer and television presenter Jancis Robinson, 74, recently came to Delhi and Mumbai to reacquaint herself with India's wine industry. This was the Robinson's fourth visit to India; the last one was seven years ago. On this trip, Robinson and her husband, restaurateur Nicholas Lander, were hosted by the Taj Hotels and Sonal Holland, India's only Master of Wine.
United in the states
Indian-Americans coming together under the Democratic umbrella could get Harris over the line in key battlegrounds
COVER DRIVE
Usage-driven motor insurance policies offer several benefits
GDP as the only measure of progress is illogical
Dasho Karma Ura, one of the world's leading happiness experts, has guided Bhutan's unique gross national happiness (GNH) project. He uses empirical data to show that money cannot buy happiness in all circumstances, rather it is family and health that have the strongest positive effect on happiness. Excerpts from an interview:
India is not a controlling big brother
Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay considers India a benevolent elder sibling as the \"big brotherly attitude\" is happily missing from bilateral ties. He thinks the relationship shared by the two countries has become a model of friendship not just for the region, but for the entire world. \"India's attitude is definitely not of a big brother who is controlling and does not allow the little brother to blossom and grow,\" says Tobgay in an exclusive interview with THE WEEK.
Comrade with no foes
Lal Salaam, Comrade Yechury-you were quite a guy!
Pinning down saffron
In her first political bout, Vinesh Phogat rides on the anti-BJP sentiment across Haryana
MAKE IN MANIPUR
Home-made rockets and weapons from across the border are escalating the conflict
SAHEB LOSES STEAM
Coalition dynamics and poor electoral prospects continue to diminish Ajit Pawar's political stock