Siddaramaiah vs DK Shivakumar: The Karnataka Congress Power Struggle Explodes at Rally

In the heart of Bengaluru, a protest against a new rural employment scheme was supposed to be a united front from the Karnataka Congress. Instead, it turned into a very public and awkward display of the Karnataka Congress power struggle that has been simmering beneath the surface for months.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, a veteran politician known for his calm demeanor, found his patience wearing thin. As he attempted to address the crowd, a group of enthusiastic Youth Congress workers began chanting “DK, DK!”—a clear show of support for his deputy, D.K. Shivakumar. Despite Siddaramaiah’s repeated, increasingly frustrated pleas for silence—”Who are those shouting ‘DK, DK’? Please be quiet! Let me speak!”—the chants persisted, effectively hijacking the event [[13]].

This incident is far more than just a moment of youthful exuberance gone wrong. It’s a stark, real-time illustration of the intense political tug-of-war between two of the state’s most powerful leaders. Let’s break down what’s really happening in Karnataka.

The Rally That Revealed All
Understanding the Karnataka Congress Power Struggle
Why the Youth Wing is in DKS’s Corner
The Stakes: The MGNREGA Protest
What’s Next for the Karnataka Congress?

The Rally That Revealed All

The rally itself was organized as part of the “Raj Bhavan Chalo” movement, a statewide protest led by both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar against the central government’s move to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) with a new scheme called VB-G RAM G [[20]]. On the surface, the two leaders were presenting a united front, even courting arrest together in a show of solidarity [[24]].

However, the moment Siddaramaiah took the microphone, the fragile unity crumbled. The persistent “DK, DK” chants from the Youth Congress section of the crowd were a direct challenge to his authority. His visible frustration wasn’t just about being interrupted; it was the realization that a significant portion of his own party’s future—the youth wing—was openly backing his rival. This public snub, captured on video and shared widely, has become a potent symbol of the internal chaos [[16]].

Understanding the Karnataka Congress Power Struggle

The roots of this conflict go back to the 2023 assembly elections. To present a united front against the BJP, the Congress high command brokered a deal where the CM post would rotate between the two leaders halfway through the term. Siddaramaiah, the senior leader, took the first shift [[1]].

Now, as we move deeper into 2026, the question of the power swap is becoming impossible to ignore. D.K. Shivakumar, a master strategist with a formidable grassroots network, is widely seen as waiting in the wings. His camp believes the time for the transition is now, while Siddaramaiah’s supporters argue he should see out his full term, especially as he recently became the longest-serving CM in the state’s history [[7]].

This isn’t just a private disagreement. BJP leaders like Shobha Karandlaje have been quick to capitalize on the rift, publicly mocking the Congress for being more focused on internal squabbles than on governance [[2]]. The party’s national leadership, including Rahul Gandhi, has had to step in for damage control meetings, but a permanent solution remains elusive [[6]].

Why the Youth Wing is in DKS’s Corner

D.K. Shivakumar has long cultivated a strong relationship with the party’s younger members. He is seen as a dynamic, accessible, and decisive leader who represents a new generation of Congress politics in Karnataka. In contrast, Siddaramaiah, while respected for his experience, is often viewed by the youth as part of the old guard.

The recent slogan war isn’t an isolated incident. There have been previous instances of Youth Congress units showing their allegiance to DKS, which has even prompted the All India Congress Committee (AICC) to issue show-cause notices to some leaders [[15]]. This latest outburst at the rally suggests that the ground-level sentiment among the party’s future is firmly with Shivakumar, adding immense pressure on the current leadership structure.

The Stakes: The MGNREGA Protest

The irony of the situation is palpable. The rally was meant to be a powerful statement against the central government’s alleged dismantling of a crucial social safety net for the rural poor [[19]]. The Congress wanted to position itself as the true defender of welfare schemes.

Instead, the event was completely overshadowed by its own internal drama. The Karnataka Congress power struggle stole the headlines, turning what should have been a policy-focused protest into a spectacle of party infighting. This not only weakens their political message but also risks alienating the very voters they are trying to protect.

What’s Next for the Karnataka Congress?

The path forward is fraught with difficulty. The party is caught between a rock and a hard place:

Enforce Discipline: Crack down hard on the Youth Congress, which could lead to a major rebellion and further fragmentation.
Accelerate the Power Swap: Hand over the CM post to D.K. Shivakumar sooner than planned, which would be a massive concession by Siddaramaiah and could be seen as a sign of weakness.
Maintain the Status Quo: Hope the issue blows over, but the recent rally shows that the tension is only escalating and is now playing out in public view.

With the next general elections on the horizon, the Congress can ill afford to be consumed by this internal battle. As one political analyst noted, the party’s biggest enemy right now might not be the BJP, but its own inability to manage its competing ambitions [[3]].

Conclusion

The image of a flustered Siddaramaiah trying to shout down chants for his deputy is a powerful metaphor for the current state of the Karnataka Congress. The Karnataka Congress power struggle is no longer a behind-closed-doors affair; it’s a full-blown public crisis that threatens to derail the party’s agenda and its future in the state. How they navigate this treacherous terrain will determine not just who leads the government, but whether the Congress can remain a credible force in Karnataka politics. For more on the national implications of state-level conflicts, see our analysis on [INTERNAL_LINK:indian-political-dynamics].