As Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah nears a historic milestone of becoming the state’s longest-serving elected leader, speculation over his tenure intensifies. Accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, a potential contender for the top post, Siddaramaiah dashed to Delhi on Friday for crucial talks with Congress high command, marking their third visit since June.

Siddaramaiah, in his second term, is poised to surpass Devaraj Urs’ record of 2,792 days as CM by January 2026. However, whispers of a power-sharing deal with Shivakumar, allegedly involving a rotational CM formula, continue to fuel uncertainty. Congress insiders suggest the party is treading cautiously, wary of unsettling its OBC voter base in poll-bound Bihar, where Siddaramaiah’s stature as the party’s only OBC CM holds significant weight.

The Delhi trip, officially to attend the AICC’s “Bhagidari Nyay Sammelan,” may include a meeting with Rahul Gandhi, though unconfirmed. A Congress gag order has silenced open MLA chatter on leadership changes, but subtle maneuvering persists as the government nears its two-and-a-half-year mark in November.

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Siddaramaiah’s firm stance on completing his five-year term contrasts with Shivakumar’s quiet strategy. The Vokkaliga leader, credited with consolidating community support in Mysuru, is banking on his loyalty to the Gandhi family. Party insiders hint Siddaramaiah may push to extend his tenure to break Urs’ record, while Congress leadership maintains strategic silence.

The 2023 elections saw fierce competition between the two leaders, with Shivakumar settling for deputy CM. Unconfirmed reports of a rotational formula linger, but Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has kept decisions ambiguous, urging unity. As Karnataka’s political cauldron simmers, all eyes are on Delhi for clues to the state’s leadership future.

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