BJP alleges Congress 'tender system' in Karnataka CM row amid leadership churn
Synopsis
The BJP's 'tender system' jibe at Congress is the sharpest political salvo yet in the Karnataka leadership standoff. With Shivakumar flying back for a breakfast meeting at Siddaramaiah's residence and Congress in-charge Surjewala landing in Bengaluru, the next 24 hours could determine whether the rotational CM question is finally put to rest — or pushed into a new, messier phase.
Key Takeaways
BJP National Spokesperson Prem Shukla alleged Congress operates a 'tender system' where the biggest fundraiser for the Gandhi family gets the Karnataka CM's post.
BJP leaders Syed Shahnawaz Hussain and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi also attacked Congress over the rotational CM arrangement, calling it against the voters' mandate.
Congress denied all speculation; K.C.
Venugopal stated the Delhi meeting only covered Rajya Sabha and MLC matters.
Shivakumar is scheduled to meet CM Siddaramaiah at 9 am on 28 May at residence 'Kaveri' in Bengaluru ; a joint press conference is expected after.
Congress in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala arrived in Bengaluru on Wednesday, officially for Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) election matters.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday, 27 May launched a sharp attack on the Congress party over the simmering leadership crisis in Karnataka, alleging that the party operates a so-called 'tender system' in which whoever raises the most money for the Gandhi family is rewarded with the Chief Minister's post. The allegations come amid intense speculation over a possible change of guard in the state, with Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah both under the political spotlight.
BJP's Allegations
BJP National Spokesperson Prem Shukla alleged, 'The Congress party has adopted a tender system in which whoever collects more money for the Gandhi family will be given the Chief Minister's chair.' BJP leader Syed Shahnawaz Hussain escalated the attack, claiming that Congress leaders 'fight among themselves only for power' and have 'nothing to do with development or the progress of Karnataka.' He alleged that their agenda is 'about how to loot Karnataka and who will be the boss of that loot.'
Senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi questioned the rotational Chief Minister arrangement being reportedly discussed within the Congress, saying, 'The mandate they received was not for a rotational Chief Minister or a rotating government. The mandate was for forming a stable government.'
Congress Dismisses the Speculation
The Congress firmly rejected the rumours. Karnataka Minister K.H. Muniyappa said, 'This is all speculation; I have no confirmed information,' adding that AICC General Secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal had already clarified that the recent Delhi meeting only concerned Rajya Sabha and Vidhan Parishad seat matters. Congress MP Jebi Mather echoed the denial, stating that the meeting between Karnataka leaders — including Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar, and KPCC President — and senior leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge was 'a normal and natural process.'
The Breakfast Meeting That Has Everyone Watching
D.K. Shivakumar, currently in New Delhi, is scheduled to fly out of Indira Gandhi International Airport at 5 am on Thursday, 28 May, arriving in Bengaluru at 8.30 am. He will head directly to Siddaramaiah's official residence 'Kaveri' for a breakfast meeting at 9 am. Sources indicate that both leaders are likely to hold a joint press conference after the meeting to address the swirling speculation.
Congress In-Charge Arrives in Bengaluru
Congress General Secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala arrived in Bengaluru on Wednesday. The party maintained that his visit is connected to elections for the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), though the timing has added further fuel to the political chatter. Notably, Uttar Pradesh Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar distanced himself from the controversy, calling it 'an internal matter of the Congress party.'
What Comes Next
The political temperature in Karnataka is unlikely to cool quickly. The outcome of Thursday's breakfast meeting between Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah, and any subsequent press conference, will be closely watched as a signal of whether the Congress high command has settled the leadership question — or merely deferred it.
Point of View
Designed to keep the Congress leadership rift in the headlines rather than allow the party to manage it quietly. The more telling detail, however, is structural: a breakfast meeting between a sitting CM and his deputy — confirmed by the deputy's own office — is not routine politics. It signals that the high command's assurances in Delhi have not fully resolved the tension on the ground. Congress's insistence that only Rajya Sabha and MLC matters were discussed strains credibility when its own Karnataka in-charge lands in the state the same evening. The rotational CM question was always a deferred problem, not a solved one.
NationPress
13 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the BJP's 'tender system' allegation against Congress in Karnataka?
BJP National Spokesperson Prem Shukla alleged that Congress awards the Karnataka Chief Minister's post to whichever leader raises the most money for the Gandhi family, calling it a 'tender system.' The allegation was made on 27 May 2025 amid speculation over a possible leadership change in the state.
Why is there speculation about a leadership change in Karnataka?
Speculation intensified after Karnataka's top Congress leaders — including CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar — met Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge in Delhi. Reports of a possible rotational CM arrangement have circulated, though the Congress has denied any such discussion took place.
What is the significance of the Shivakumar–Siddaramaiah breakfast meeting on 28 May?
Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar is scheduled to meet CM Siddaramaiah at 9 am on 28 May at the Chief Minister's official residence 'Kaveri' in Bengaluru. Sources say both leaders are likely to hold a joint press conference afterwards to address the ongoing leadership speculation.
What did the Congress say about the leadership rumours?
Congress firmly denied the speculation. AICC General Secretary K.C. Venugopal stated that the Delhi meeting only covered Rajya Sabha and Vidhan Parishad seat matters. Karnataka Minister K.H. Muniyappa and Congress MP Jebi Mather both called the leadership change reports baseless.
Why has Congress in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala visited Bengaluru?
The Congress party said Randeep Singh Surjewala's visit to Bengaluru on 27 May is related to elections for the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA). However, the timing — coinciding with the leadership speculation — has drawn significant political attention.
