‘Next CM DKS’ Posters On Shivakumar’s Birthday Stir Fresh Buzz Over Karnataka Congress Leadership

Last Updated:May 14, 2026, 10:31 IST

While officially framed as birthday wishes by supporters, the messaging has revived chatter around the long-discussed power-sharing arrangement between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar.

Ahead of Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar’s birthday celebrations, posters and large cut-outs declaring “Next CM DKS" outside the Karnataka Congress office and across parts of Bengaluru have once again triggered fresh speculation over the Congress’s unresolved leadership question in the state. For now, the Congress high command may be focused elsewhere. But in Karnataka, DK Shivakumar’s birthday has once again brought the “Next CM" debate back into the spotlight.

While officially framed as birthday wishes by supporters, the public messaging has revived political chatter around the long-discussed power-sharing arrangement between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar — an issue that has lingered ever since the Congress returned to power in Karnataka in 2023.

The timing of the poster campaign is politically significant, with the Siddaramaiah government approaching the halfway mark of its five-year term, a phase that has repeatedly fuelled discussions over whether the Congress high command may eventually revisit leadership equations or consider a cabinet reshuffle.

Shivakumar’s supporters within the party have increasingly amplified the “Next CM" slogan, keeping alive speculation that the Karnataka Congress chief remains central to any future leadership transition.

Adding to the speculation, Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi recently indicated that the Congress high command is expected to turn its attention to Karnataka after political developments in Kerala are settled.

“The high command will take a final call after the political developments in Kerala. There is a need for clear direction from the party leadership to remove confusion regarding power-sharing arrangements and leadership issues in the state," Jarkiholi said.

His remarks have once again put the spotlight on internal Congress calculations, particularly as senior party leader KC Venugopal — one of the key central observers for Karnataka — is also deeply involved in parallel political decisions in Kerala. Venugopal himself is the front runner for the post of the Kerala chief minister after the UDF’s thumping victory in the coastal state.

Despite recurring speculation, Shivakumar has publicly maintained that both he and Siddaramaiah will abide by the Congress high command’s decision.

Last month, the Deputy CM dismissed leadership chatter, saying the party leadership would take “an appropriate decision at the appropriate time."

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, meanwhile, continues to project stability, with no formal indication from the party that any immediate leadership change is under consideration. However, opposition leaders have repeatedly sought to sharpen perceptions of internal friction.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently remarked that the “CM chair is wobbling" in Karnataka, prompting a sharp rebuttal from Shivakumar. “No chairs are wobbling in Karnataka. All chairs are stable. I don’t know what the Prime Minister is seeing," Shivakumar said.

Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy also claimed there was an internal tug-of-war between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar over Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) elections, alleging that both leaders were approaching the timing of civic polls through different political calculations.

While Congress has publicly dismissed such claims, the appearance of “Next CM DKS" posters has once again highlighted the undercurrent of leadership speculation within the ruling party.

For the Congress, maintaining unity remains crucial as it balances governance, factional aspirations and preparations for upcoming electoral challenges.

For Shivakumar, the birthday posters serve as both a show of grassroots support and a political reminder that his supporters continue to publicly project him as a future chief ministerial contender. For Siddaramaiah, they are another sign that even as he remains Chief Minster, his seat is still not secure.

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