Too Many Cooks? Dinner Politics Stirs Up Siddaramaiah Vs Shivakumar Power Struggle In Karnataka

Last Updated:March 17, 2026, 13:32 IST

Party insiders say Siddaramaiah is understood to have used the meeting to rally forces in his corner and understand the dynamics more closely, while sending out a signal of unity

The dinner table, it appears, has become the new political war room in Karnataka now.

Chief minister Siddaramaiah kicked off the first of a series of dinner meetings on Monday evening, setting off fresh political chatter within the Grand Old Party in Karnataka. As he sat down with a select group of 14 ministers, Siddaramaiah spoke about the preparations for the upcoming bypolls in Karnataka, internal reservation, and the impending cabinet reshuffle.

However, there is more than what meets the eye.

Those who attended the meet included Priyank Kharge, Eshwar Khandre, BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan, Byrathi Suresh, Krishna Byre Gowda, Dinesh Gundu Rao, MB Patil, HC Mahadevappa, KH Muniappa, Ramalinga Reddy, SS Mallikarjun, Satish Jarkiholi and Cheluvarayaswamy.

Party insiders say Siddaramaiah is understood to have used the meeting to rally forces in his corner and understand the dynamics more closely, while sending out a signal of unity amid factional murmurs, shadow boxing and the power tussle between him and deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar.

A message was also given to the ministers who attended to rein in MLAs and discourage frequent trips to Delhi.

The timing is key. Over the past few weeks, multiple informal dinner meetings have been held among different groups within the Congress—Lingayat leaders led by MB Patil and Dalit leaders led by G Parameshwara and Satish Jarkiholi. These parallel gatherings have only underlined the simmering divisions.

All this is playing out against the backdrop of the continuing power tussle between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar over the chief minister’s post, along with growing demands from within the party for a cabinet reshuffle.

Siddaramaiah also held a separate meeting with Shivakumar before the ministers’ dinner meeting.

DK’s Parallel Outreach

Shivakumar, too, has been working his own channels.

In recent weeks, the deputy CM has hosted and attended smaller, closed-door interactions with MLAs and select ministers, many of them from his support base. Having completed six years as KPCC chief, the fact that only show-cause notices have been issued to those seeking a change in CM and handover of power to DK shows that he wants to keep the pressure on the high command.

With a cabinet reshuffle on the cards, there is also a clear attempt to consolidate support across regions and communities, particularly among Vokkaliga leaders and first-time MLAs. The demand to seek ministerial posts for first-time MLAs or fresh faces is also largely a demand from the Shivakumar camp.

Party insiders say the parallel dinner politics reflects the reality within the Congress—two power centres operating simultaneously, each trying to hold its ground without triggering an open confrontation.

Meanwhile, the Karnataka Congress is stepping up preparations for the upcoming bypolls and local body elections. The party leadership has already deployed teams of ministers to oversee campaign efforts in Davanagere South and Bagalkote.

News politics Too Many Cooks? Dinner Politics Stirs Up Siddaramaiah Vs Shivakumar Power Struggle In Karnataka

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