Sometimes in Karnataka, sometimes in Rajasthan, how does discord weigh heavily on Congress?

There is discord once again in Karnataka Congress. There are reports of factionalism between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivkumar for the post of Chief Minister. Now a war of words has broken out between Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar regarding the ‘Power of Words’. Meetings have been called from Bengaluru to Delhi on the ongoing tussle between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar.

While DK Shivakumar is giving the slogan ‘Word Power is World Power DK’, Siddaramaiah is emphasizing on ‘Word to Karnataka is not a slogan, it means the world to us’. There is a war of words between the two allies. The history of Congress has been such that whenever such discord comes to the fore in the party, the party disintegrates.

What is the reason for the conflict in Karnataka Congress?

One reason for the discord in Karnataka Congress is being said to be the promise made by the Congress high command to both the leaders. There is speculation that the informal ‘power-sharing agreement for two and a half years’ between Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar did not go ahead after the 2023 election victory, hence there is resentment. The rift increased when Shivkumar staked claim for the post of Chief Minister on completion of half the term of the government on 20 November 2025. Siddaramaiah is repeatedly reiterating that he will complete his tenure. MLAs supporting Shivkumar have knocked till Delhi. They are putting pressure on the high command to make DK Shivkumar the CM. Siddaramaiah has cited achievements and said that power will remain his. Rahul Gandhi’s silence is also increasing the discord.

Also read: DK Shivkumar is saying no, then why are the MLAs rebelling?

When has Congress suffered losses in states due to discord?

• Madhya Pradesh: From 2020 till now, Congress has lost power in many states due to infighting. Assembly elections were held in Madhya Pradesh in the year 2018. Congress party came to power with majority. Shivraj Singh Chauhan had departed. The rift started immediately after the victory in the assembly elections. There was a fight between two faces. Kamnath and Jyotiraditya Scindia. Both were strong contenders for the post of CM. After several days of meeting, it was decided that Kamal Nath would become the CM. Scindia agreed but after just 18 months the struggle for power started. Jyotiraditya Scindia left the party. Kamal Nath’s government fell. He joined BJP. Congress came to power in Madhya Pradesh after almost 2 decades, there was majority with the party but the party broke up, once again Congress is marginalized in the state.
• Rajasthan: Here it has been a tradition to change the government every 5 years. After the assembly elections held in 2018, Congress came into a strong position in Rajasthan. Ashok Gehlot government was formed for the third time in Rajasthan. The two heroes of victory were Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot. After the election results came out, there was a tussle over the post of CM for several days. The Congress high command decided that Ashok Gehlot will be the CM. He became the CM, Sachin Pilot became the Deputy CM. A few days after becoming CM, the rift between Sachin Pilot and Ashok Gehlot started. In the year 2020, the situation came to such an extent that Sachin Pilot went to Manesar with 20 MLAs. There was even talk of toppling the government. The discord still continues. When assembly elections were held in 2023, BJP formed the government with an overwhelming majority. Congress contested on 199 seats, but won only 69 and lost power. Bhajan Lala Sharma is the CM of Rajasthan.

Also read:‘All 140 are my MLAs’, DK Shivakumar’s big statement on factionalism in Karnataka

• Punjab: Punjab Assembly elections were held in the year 2017. Then Congress once again made Captain Amarinder the CM. A lot of factionalism started in Congress. Navjot Singh Sidhu was made the state president, he never got along well with Amarinder. There was a lot of political warfare from 2019 to 2021. In 2017, Captain became the Chief Minister but Sidhu missed out on becoming Deputy CM. On the investigation reports of 2019 Bargadi firing and drug racket, Sidhu intensified his attacks on the Captain. The Congress high command supported Sidhu. Ultimately the Captain had to resign in July 2021, Charanjit Singh Channi became the Chief Minister and Sidhu the State President. Captain Amarinder contested the elections after separating from the Congress. Elections were held in 2022, Congress left power and Aam Aadmi Party government was formed. From then till now, Congress is in a directionless situation in Punjab.
• Chhattisgarh: Bhupesh Baghel was CM in the year 2018. By the time the 2023 assembly elections came, news of the rift between Bhupesh Baghel and TS Singh Deo became public. There was discord over ticket distribution also. The Congress, which came to power with a majority in the 2018 elections, was reduced to 35 seats. Now there is BJP government there.
• Haryana: Congress has never come to power in Haryana since 2014. Congress got divided due to mutual tussle between Bhupendra Singh Hooda, Kumari Selja and Randeep Surjewala, BJP started getting organized. BJP is in power there since 2014.

What can happen in Karnataka now?

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge is confident that a consensus will be reached in Karnataka before December 1. All issues will be resolved in the meeting of DK Shivakumar, Mallikarjun Kharge and Congress high command. Pro-DK Shivakumar MLAs in Karnataka want DK Shivakumar to take charge of the state. There was a political promise of 2 CMs in one term, non-fulfillment of which has now created a political ruckus.