Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra on Tuesday launched a sharp broadside against the ruling Congress government in Karnataka, alleging that governance in the state had ground to a halt as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar remained locked in a power struggle and lobbied the party high command in New Delhi. The attack came amid heightened political speculation over a possible leadership change in Bengaluru.

Vijayendra's Charge: 'Vidhana Soudha Stands Empty'

Addressing reporters, Vijayendra alleged that the state's administrative machinery had effectively stalled. 'The corridors of Vidhana Soudha are empty. My request to the people of the state is — do not look for governance in Vidhana Soudha. The Congress government itself has gone to Delhi on a deputation driven by its hunger for power to mark attendance before the high command,' he said.

Vijayendra further mocked what he called a 'global chair-wrestling problem' within Congress, alleging that the party's top Karnataka leaders had come to power solely to fight over the Chief Minister's chair rather than to govern. 'They came to power only to fight over the Chief Minister's chair and to sit in Delhi lobbying for positions. People now understand this clearly,' he alleged.

JD(S) Joins the Attack via Social Media

The Janata Dal (Secular) [JD(S)] Karnataka unit also trained its guns on the Congress government on Tuesday, echoing the BJP's criticism in a post on social media platform X. The party alleged that Congress leaders were engaged in a scramble for power while neglecting state development and public welfare.

'There is a scramble for the chair within the government and complete surrender before the Delhi high command. By neglecting the development of the state and fighting only for power, Congress leaders have shown that self-interest is more important to them than the welfare of Kannadigas,' the JD(S) stated in its post.

The party further alleged that farmers in Karnataka were losing their land and suffering hardship while Congress leaders remained preoccupied with protecting their political positions. 'While farmers are shedding tears after losing their land, Congress leaders are worried only about protecting their chairs. Standing at the doors of the Delhi high command and sacrificing the interests of the state, these Congress leaders are unable to see the hardships faced by the people,' the JD(S) said.

The Leadership Speculation in Context

The opposition salvos follow a series of meetings between Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar, and the Congress high command in New Delhi, which have fuelled persistent speculation about a mid-term leadership transition in Karnataka. The Congress government took office in May 2023 after a decisive assembly election victory, with an informal understanding widely reported at the time that the two leaders would share power — an arrangement that critics argue has never been fully settled.

Notably, this is not the first time the BJP and JD(S) have sought to capitalise on Congress's internal tensions. Both parties have consistently framed the Siddaramaiah-Shivakumar dynamic as a structural weakness, particularly ahead of local body elections. The JD(S) also accused the government of compromising the self-respect of Kannadigas for political interests, adding: 'The government, which has mortgaged the self-respect of Kannadigas, deserves condemnation.'

What Happens Next

The Congress high command has not made any public statement confirming or denying a leadership change. Political observers in Bengaluru expect the speculation to intensify in the coming weeks, with both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar camps reportedly marshalling support among legislators. How the high command responds — and whether it imposes a resolution or allows the status quo to continue — will shape Karnataka's political landscape through the remainder of the government's term.