As Crisis Brews In Karnataka, Congress High Command Keeps Mum
Editor-in-Chief of indiacommentary.com. Current Affairs analyst and political commentator.
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By Sunil Garodia
First publised on 2025-11-28 15:04:31
About the Author
Editor-in-Chief of indiacommentary.com. Current Affairs analyst and political commentator.
View all posts by this Author
Congress High Command Waits and Watches
The policy paralysis that plagued the Congress government between 2009 and 2014 and which was instrumental in the party losing power in 2014, is repeatedly visible when crisis strikes the party. The Congress high command takes no action when the rumblings start and it does only after the storm has firmly struck, leading to loss of face and credibility.
Is The Party Letting DKS Down?
A similar situation is brewing for the last 15 days in Karnataka, where deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and MLAs backing him for the top post have made a direct pitch for change in leadership, citing an agreement struck in 2023. They point out that DKS was instrumental in leading the party to a win in the state and was a strong contender for the top post. But he was assured by the high command that the senior man, Siddaramaiah would be chief minister for first half of the term and DKS will be elevated in the second half. But that time has passed and Sidda shows no signs of honouring the pact or stepping down. This has led to a stand-off which needs urgent intervention by the high command. But, as usual, party honchos in Delhi are typically silent and ineffective, despite DKS supporters meeting them.
Will The Congress Renege On Its alleged Promise?
There is no denying that DKS had put his heart and soul in the 2023 campaign and ensured a Congress win. But he was denied the chief minister's chair mainly due to two reasons: Sidda's seniority and caste calculations. He was pacified in the larger interests of party unity and assured that he will be handed the reins after 2.5 years. It seems that the party high command is facing the same seniority and caste problems again and is likely to renege on its promise, leaving DKS high and dry and risking further discontent in the party which will not be good for it in the 2028 elections.
High Command Must Act Urgently
But neither party president Mallikarjun Kharge nor Rahul Gandhi have shown any inclination to resolve the conflict nor have they appointed any other senior leader to settle the matter. This has led senior state leaders like Veerappa Moily to lash out at the high command. The Congress is in disarray in Karnataka and instead of hoping for the leaders to mutually settle their differences, the Congress high command must intervene and arrive at a just solution that does not harm the party's prospects in 2028.
