Bengaluru: Congress MLA Iqbal Hussain on Tuesday declared in Ramanagara that Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar would "surely" assume charge as Karnataka Chief Minister by May 15 — a date that coincides with Shivakumar's 64th birthday. The statement has sharpened the already simmering leadership tussle within the state's Indian National Congress (INC) unit, as multiple senior ministers make back-to-back trips to the party high command in New Delhi.

Hussain's 'Final Date' Declaration

Hussain, a staunch Shivakumar loyalist, told reporters that he had previously made statements on two occasions about a leadership change and had offered two or three possible dates. He said May 15 is now the "final date" and expressed certainty that Shivakumar would take office on that day. When asked whether the Chief Minister's post would arrive as a birthday gift, Hussain replied that "everyone shares the same wish" that Shivakumar should assume power. He added that under Shivakumar's leadership, wide-ranging development projects would be undertaken across the state.

Siddaramaiah Camp Weighs In

In a significant development from the incumbent camp, former Karnataka Minister and Congress MLA K.N. Rajanna stated that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is ready to step down if Congress leader Rahul Gandhi asks him to do so. The statement signals that the sitting Chief Minister's faction is not entirely opposed to a transition, provided the directive comes from the party's top leadership.

Senior Ministers Press High Command for Clarity

Senior Congress minister Satish Jarkiholi, a close associate of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, visited New Delhi shortly after Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar concluded his own three-day Delhi trip. Jarkiholi met All India Congress Committee (AICC) President Mallikarjun Kharge and submitted a formal appeal seeking clarity on the chief ministerial question. According to sources, he conveyed that the continuing leadership discussion is creating "discomfort" within the party and fuelling growing internal uncertainty.

Minister for Food and Civil Supplies K.H. Muniyappa also met AICC President Kharge and AICC General Secretary and Congress MP K.C. Venugopal in Delhi. Muniyappa told reporters that he had appealed to the high command to resolve the leadership issue without delay and that the high command may take a decision on the Chief Minister's post by the end of May.

Context: Why the Tussle Has Intensified Now

The leadership question in Karnataka has come to the fore following the conclusion of polling in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Assam, suggesting the Congress high command had preferred to avoid internal disruptions during active election cycles. Notably, this is not the first time Shivakumar supporters have publicly floated a transition date — Hussain himself acknowledged having done so on at least two previous occasions, underlining the sustained pressure from within the Shivakumar camp. The Congress had come to power in Karnataka in May 2023 on the back of a power-sharing understanding between the two factions, though no formal written agreement has been publicly confirmed.

What Happens Next

With multiple senior Karnataka ministers now having met the AICC leadership in quick succession, the high command appears to be under mounting pressure to issue a definitive direction. Minister Muniyappa's timeline — a decision by end of May — broadly aligns with MLA Hussain's May 15 prediction, though the final call rests with the Congress central leadership. All eyes are now on Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi to break the impasse before internal tensions spill further into public view.