Bengaluru, Nov 27 (NationPress) Karnataka's ruling Congress party faces a significant challenge as party leader Mallikarjun Kharge attempts to address the ongoing power struggle. Deputy Chief Minister and Karnataka Congress president D.K. Shivakumar shared a cryptic message on the social media platform X, emphasizing the importance of “keeping one’s word,” which hints at his renewed ambition for the Chief Minister’s position as the Congress government marks its two-and-a-half-year anniversary.

Sources within the party indicate that the Deputy Chief Minister has reiterated the agreement on power-sharing and the transition of the Chief Minister’s position to him after the government reaches the two-and-a-half-year milestone.

Shivakumar's post showcased a striking poster with the phrase “Word power is world power” prominently displayed in bold red, seemingly directed at the party's leadership. He elaborated, “The greatest force in the world is to keep one’s word. Whether it’s a judge, president, or myself, everyone must uphold their promises. Word power is world power.”

Insiders suggest that this post signals Shivakumar's readiness to address the leadership contention more openly and serves as a reminder to Siddaramaiah and the high command about the alleged agreement for both leaders to share the Chief Minister's role for half of the term.

This message from Shivakumar followed Kharge's acknowledgment of the leadership crisis, where he stated that both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar would be summoned to Delhi to resolve the matter.

At a recent event on Constitution Day at the KPCC office, the Deputy Chief Minister reiterated the significance of word power and the necessity of honoring one’s commitments. His statements have only intensified speculation regarding the leadership struggle.

Shivakumar has indicated that he would limit his comments due to previous misinterpretations of his statements. He remarked that his comments during Indira Gandhi's anniversary and on World Fisheries Day had been misconstrued.

“The media is gaining significant TRP through such coverage, which inadvertently strengthens our party,” noted the Karnataka Congress chief.

Nonetheless, his latest message on X has been perceived within party circles as a strong indication regarding the Chief Ministerial dispute. Earlier, his brother, former MP D.K. Suresh, emphasized the importance of honoring commitments, inviting interpretations from the press.

Both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar are currently in Delhi engaging with national leaders.

Kharge recently spent over an hour and a half meeting with the Chief Minister in Bengaluru, but sources suggest his efforts to mediate have not been fruitful. The resolution of this issue is now expected to be addressed by Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.

While Siddaramaiah had initially asserted his intent to serve a full five-year term, he later clarified that the leadership decision lies with the high command, and both he and Shivakumar would comply with its directive. Both factions are now awaiting the forthcoming meeting in Delhi under Rahul Gandhi's leadership.