The Congress high command on Tuesday, 26 May moved to publicly dismiss reports of a leadership crisis in Karnataka, insisting that a day-long meeting at Indira Bhavan in New Delhi was focused solely on upcoming electoral strategy — even as party sources painted a sharply different picture behind closed doors.

What the Official Statement Said

All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal addressed the media outside Indira Bhavan, flanked by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. He stated: 'AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala, and I were part of the discussions. Today's discussions were only concentrated on the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections and Karnataka Legislative Council elections.'

Venugopal added that candidate announcements for the Rajya Sabha and Council seats would be made alongside those from other states including Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, and that 'nothing else' was decided. The leadership pointedly refused to take questions from the media.

Surjewala, who opened the briefing, appealed to reporters: 'For heaven's sake, stop speculations.'

What Sources Claimed Behind the Scenes

Congress sources, however, told reporters that Rahul Gandhi held detailed discussions with both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar on the Chief Minister's post. According to these sources, Siddaramaiah was reportedly offered a Rajya Sabha seat and the post of Deputy Chief Minister for his son, Yathindra Siddaramaiah — currently a Congress MLC — as part of a possible power-sharing formula. Sources claimed Siddaramaiah declined the offer.

The high command is said to have asked Shivakumar to wait longer before any leadership transition, according to the same sources. These claims remain unverified by the party officially.

The Body Language Told a Different Story

The contrast in demeanour among the key figures was stark. Shivakumar, described by observers as appearing elated, left the venue without speaking to the media — folding his hands and returning inside for another round of talks with Venugopal. Siddaramaiah, by contrast, offered only a terse 'only speculations' before departing, and sources described him as appearing upset following the power-sharing discussions.

Background and What Is at Stake

The tussle between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar has simmered since the Indian National Congress (INC) swept back to power in Karnataka in 2023. Shivakumar, who is also the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, has long been seen as a claimant to the Chief Minister's chair. The Congress high command has so far managed the tension with deliberate ambiguity, but the pressure has visibly intensified ahead of the Rajya Sabha polls.

This is not the first time the party has publicly denied an internal crisis while sources simultaneously briefed the press on the contrary — a pattern that has characterised Congress's handling of coalition and factional pressures in multiple states. With Rajya Sabha seats and Council berths at stake, the coming weeks will test whether the high command's holding strategy can contain the rivalry further.