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Bengaluru: The much-talked-about “November revolution” in Karnataka’s Congress government appears to be heading straight for Delhi’s corridors of power. Amid daily political twists, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s latest statement has triggered intense speculation about a possible shift in leadership tone — and timing.
For months, Siddaramaiah had confidently asserted, “I will remain Chief Minister for the full five years.” But in recent interactions, his tone has notably softened. When asked again whether he would continue till the end of his term, his response — “It depends on the High Command’s decision” — raised eyebrows both in Bengaluru and Delhi.
The Congress government will complete two and a half years in power on November 20, marking a crucial halfway point. Party insiders call it the “November churn” — a decisive phase where Delhi’s High Command could intervene to balance the internal power equation between CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar.
While Siddaramaiah continues to enjoy Rahul Gandhi’s confidence as the AHINDA leader who consolidated Congress’s social base, DK Shivakumar believes the same Delhi blessing could soon tilt in his favour. Shivakumar, known for his political tenacity, has reportedly prepared “Plan A, Plan B and Plan C” to secure his future within the party.
Both leaders are waiting for post-Bihar election developments before any major reshuffle. Congress insiders believe that if the Bihar poll outcome is adverse for the party, Delhi will avoid a leadership change in Karnataka. Confident of this, Siddaramaiah is expected to spend three days in Delhi after November 15 to seek Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge’s approval for a cabinet reshuffle — an exercise aimed at rejuvenating his government’s image without altering the top post.
For Siddaramaiah, a “green signal” for cabinet expansion from the High Command would send a clear message: no leadership change, only governance revamp. But DK Shivakumar, who recently returned from Delhi without meeting senior Congress leaders, is unlikely to remain passive. He has sought another one-on-one meeting with Rahul Gandhi to push his case for leading the party into the 2028 Assembly and 2029 Lok Sabha polls.
Meanwhile, CM Siddaramaiah has called a meeting of senior ministers today — officially to discuss Rajyotsava Awards — but party sources suggest the real agenda is to secure ministerial confidence amid intensifying talk of leadership transition.
As both power centres sharpen their Delhi strategies, the coming weeks could define whether Karnataka’s Congress witnesses a smooth cabinet reshuffle or a full-blown “November revolution.”
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