Karnataka CM Row: Kharge Pushes Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar on Balanced Development Amid Power Buzz

A firm demand for balanced growth and a reminder of long-pending regional aspirations set the tone in Karnataka on Monday, as congress president Mallikarjun Kharge publicly pressed Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar to replicate the scale of development seen in Mysuru in his home region of Kalaburagi. The remarks were made even as internal Congress dynamics and leadership speculation remained firmly in the spotlight.

Speaking at a state government programme in Kalaburagi, Kharge cut through political niceties to highlight what he described as persistent regional imbalances in Karnataka’s development trajectory. Drawing from his long administrative and political experience, the Congress chief underlined that growth should not be concentrated around select regions or leaders.

“DO AT LEAST 75% FOR US”

Addressing Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar directly from the stage, Kharge made it clear that development cannot be shaped by personal geography or political convenience.

“You don’t have to be from here to work for US. You have done significant work in Mysuru and in Siddaramaiah’s district or constituency. Do at least 75 per cent of that effort for our region,” Kharge said, striking a candid and assertive tone.

He went on to link education with long-term prosperity, flagging the acute shortage of English-medium schools in several parts of Kalaburagi and surrounding areas.

“People will not experience prosperity and well-being without education. Our children are forced to go to Bengaluru or other cities for schooling. In many areas here, there are no English-medium schools,” Kharge said, acknowledging the growing belief among families that English education is essential for social and economic mobility.

“WE DON’T WANT LONDON OR SINGAPORE”

In another pointed intervention, Kharge rejected flashy, headline-driven development models and instead argued for internal equality within Karnataka.

“Money is flowing in large quantities. If I had been born in Mysuru, I too would have seen development. Birthplace should not decide progress,” he said, emphasizing fairness over spectacle.

Striking a distinctly populist note, Kharge added, “We don’t want Singapore. We don’t want London. We don’t want America. Just show us Mysuru. How is your constituency? Do at least that much for us. Saying it cannot be done is not right. You must give us special attention.”

POWER SPECULATION LOOMS, DELHI REMAINS KEY

Kharge’s strong words on development came against the backdrop of the ongoing leadership debate within the Karnataka Congress. Later in the day, the AICC president clarified that the party’s central leadership continues to manage the situation.

When asked by reporters about summoning Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar to New Delhi, Kharge responded cautiously, saying, “Whenever necessary, the party will call them.”

The Congress government crossed the midway mark of its five-year term on November 20, a milestone that has reignited speculation about a possible leadership change. These rumors trace back to claims of a power-sharing understanding between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar at the time the government was formed in 2023.

CM CONFIDENT, DEPUTY CM SIGNALS INTENT

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who recently overtook Devaraj Urs to become Karnataka’s longest-serving chief minister, has maintained that he intends to complete the full term. At the same time, he has consistently reiterated that the final decision rests with the party’s high command.

Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar, who also serves as the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president, added fresh fuel to the debate on Sunday. Speaking about his political journey and struggles, he said he was confident about the party’s future decision regarding him — a statement widely interpreted as a signal of his chief ministerial ambitions.

BEHIND-THE-SCENES MOVES

According to party sources, Shivakumar met Kharge at the latter’s residence earlier on Monday. Later, in a display of unity amid intense media scrutiny, the two leaders travelled together to Kalaburagi to attend the government event.

Kharge has previously sought to play down the leadership issue, stating last month that any confusion existed at the state level and not within the Congress high command. He also urged Karnataka leaders to take responsibility for resolving internal matters rather than shifting blame.

As the political temperature rises, Kharge’s intervention serves as both a developmental directive and a reminder that, for the Congress leadership, governance performance and regional equity remain central — even as power equations continue to evolve behind the scenes.