Source India Today
BENGALURU: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar reignited speculation about the state’s leadership tussle on Friday by publicly lauding former Congress President Sonia Gandhi for “sacrificing power,” a remark delivered while sharing the stage with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
Speaking at a government event in Bengaluru, Shivakumar recounted the 2004 incident when Sonia Gandhi declined the Prime Minister’s post, instead nominating Dr. Manmohan Singh.
“Sonia Gandhi worked as All India Congress president for 20 years. She sacrificed her power,” Shivakumar stated. “Abdul Kalam (the then President of India) called her to become the next PM, but she refused that position and instead, suggested Manmohan Singh, who was an expert in economics, to become the next Prime Minister for the country’s development.”
Context: The Halfway Mark
The Deputy CM’s forceful “shoutout” to Gandhi’s selflessness comes at a sensitive time for the Karnataka Congress unit, as the Siddaramaiah-led government recently crossed the halfway mark of its five-year term.
For weeks, the political atmosphere has been thick with rumours of an alleged power-sharing deal, wherein Shivakumar would take over the Chief Minister’s chair for the remaining 2.5 years—a claim repeatedly denied by Siddaramaiah. The two leaders have also been engaging in cryptic social media exchanges, trading posts about “word power” and keeping promises.
Mixed Signals from DKS
While the praise for Sonia Gandhi’s “sacrifice” was widely interpreted as an indirect message to his political rival—and perhaps to the party’s high command—Shivakumar concluded his address by seeking continued support for the current administration.
“May your blessings remain with us. May your blessings stay with the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government,” he stated, seemingly attempting to project a sense of unity despite the undercurrent of tension.
High Command Intervention Expected
The political drama has prompted the Congress central leadership to step in. A key meeting in New Delhi is anticipated to address the power-sharing issue, with both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar expected to attend.
Earlier in the day, Shivakumar had said that he was not in a hurry for the top job and would abide by the party’s decision. “My community is the Congress, and my love is for all sections of society. I don’t want anything; my party will make the decision,” he commented.
The High Command is now under pressure to resolve the internal rift and ensure administrative stability, especially in light of the veiled references to ‘sacrifice’ and ‘keeping one’s word’ that have dominated the public discourse.
