The November Revolution is the new buzzword in Karnataka. Come Nov 1, and the sitting Chief Minister of Karnataka will be completing his two and a half years in office. It will be exactly the mid-term of the Congress government in the state. Generally, sitting chief ministers take this as something to rejoice about.
But that is visibly missing from Karnataka. The reason: from day one, Congress came to power in the state, dislodging the BJP in the 2023 assembly elections, there has been an unwritten agreement between Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar that each would serve as the chief minister of the state for a period of two and a half years. If it is true, Siddaramaiah needs to quit and hand over the mantle to DK Shivakumar, a CM-in-waiting.
November revolution in the offing
But would this happen is a million-dollar question? While the Congress high command never officially announced such a power-sharing agreement. But Shivakumar’s camp, however, maintains that the sitting CM is expected to step down next month, sparking rumours of a ‘November Revolution’ in the Congress party.
Leave aside whether it is true or false. But the recent statements made by the two leaders and their supporters do indicate that the ultimate power showdown between the two is in the offing.
War of words begin
Just a day back, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar in an interview to a Kannada news channel made it amply clear that it was Congress high command that decides the Chief minister and not the one, who has the support of more number of legislators.
“No decision happens on numbers. Always, it’s the party high command that decides who should be where and till when. I know Congress. It doesn’t work, based on the support of MLAs,” Shivakumar said, not ruling out a change of guard in the state in the near future.
Shivakumar’s reaction came after Siddaramaiah, while talking to reporters in Bagalkot earlier on the same day said that support of MLAs was crucial for anyone aspiring to become the Chief Minister.“The high command has its importance, but ultimately, it is the MLAs who have to give their consent. Therefore, both the support and the blessings of the high command are essential to become the Chief Minister,” he stated.
Obviously, he was sending the message to DK Shivakumar that the majority of MLAs were on his side and favoured him as CM.
He dismissed the so-called ‘November Revolution’ claims, terming them baseless. “No such ‘kranti’ will ever happen,” he said.
Siddaramaiah has already been repeatedly saying that he was here to stay as CM. Only two weeks, he categorically ruled out any change, asserting that he was there for a full five-year term. “I will be the chief minister for the full five-year term,” Siddaramaiah had told reporters in clear and loud words.
The sitting Chief Minister then said so while reacting to the statements made by Kunigal MLA H D Ranganath and former Mandya MP L R Shivarame Gowda, in which the two favoured Shivakumar being made the Chief Minister.
Will Shivakumar cross the red line?
While the two factions continue to attack each other. One thing is for sure, that after Nov 1, the war of words between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar will become more bitter and sharper. But will Shivakumar cross the red line. There has been several occasions in the past when he took decision on his own. He went to Prayagraj Mahakumbh with his family for a holy dip, when the entire Congress leadership, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge, was maintaining distance from the mega event, even criticising it. He again just recent sang the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh’s anthem inside the assembly much to the display of his party colleagues.
So Shivakumar can go to any extent. With each passing day, ambitious Shivakumar is becoming restless. Siddaramaiah, on the other hand, is in no mood to give in. The final showdown is coming.
