Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar on Thursday once again maintained that only time would reveal whether he would become the Chief Minister of the state.
His remarks come amid growing anticipation within the Congress that the party high command may soon take a call on a possible leadership change and the long-pending Cabinet reshuffle, as the Karnataka government has completed three years in office.
Political circles are abuzz with speculation that the Congress leadership may soon call Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, who also serves as the Karnataka Congress president, to New Delhi for discussions aimed at resolving the ongoing tussle over the chief minister’s post.
“Time and ‘muhurta’ will answer,” Shivakumar told reporters in Chamarajanagara when asked if he would eventually become the CM. Responding to questions about his recent temple visits and special prayers amid speculation over a leadership change, Shivakumar remarked, “You are all God. The people are God.”
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Supporters of Shivakumar have continued to push for his elevation, citing a reported power-sharing understanding reached with Siddaramaiah after the Congress secured victory in the 2023 Assembly elections. The leadership debate within the ruling party has intensified following speculation that the Congress may consider a change in chief minister after the government crossed the halfway mark of its five-year tenure on November 20, 2025.
The rumours have largely been linked to the alleged “power-sharing” formula said to have been worked out between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar during government formation in 2023.
Meanwhile, Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara said in Bengaluru that the Congress high command would clarify the issue if such a matter was indeed under consideration.
“Why would they unnecessarily comment? Who has raised the issue of change? Even yesterday, the Deputy CM himself clarified that he has not sought any change. Then where has this question come from?” Parameshwara asked while responding to media queries on why the party leadership had not addressed the speculation.
He stressed that the final decision rests solely with the Congress high command. “There is a high command in the party, and it will decide what has to be done and when. Individual statements to the media will not change anything. Whether the chief minister should continue or be changed is not for us sitting here to decide,” he said.
Parameshwara further stated that, to his knowledge, no specific tenure had been fixed for Siddaramaiah when he was chosen as Chief Minister. “We are not aware of any such arrangement. Neither the general secretary nor anyone from the high command informed us about it,” he added.
Responding to recent remarks by senior Congress MLA and former minister K. N. Rajanna suggesting that Parameshwara should be considered for the CM’s post in the event of a leadership change, the Home Minister said Rajanna’s comments were made out of personal affection.
“He is from my district and is also my friend. We studied together. Naturally, he wants Tumakuru to get an opportunity. I see nothing wrong in that,” Parameshwara said. There has also been growing demand within sections of the party for a “Dalit CM” in Karnataka, with Parameshwara emerging as one of the prominent contenders.
His name has surfaced periodically in discussions surrounding the chief ministerial race, especially amid speculation that several AHINDA leaders — representing minorities, backward classes and Dalits — aligned with Siddaramaiah’s camp, favour one among them taking over the top post if a leadership transition takes place.
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