DK Shivakumar's rocky start: Portfolio mutiny, resignation on Day 2; Rahul steps in

DK Shivakumar's tenure as the new chief minister of Karnataka has been turbulent from the outset. Just two days into his tenure, the firebrand leader’s government is already marked by open dissent, ministerial unrest and factional infighting. With only 13 ministers inducted and 20 cabinet berths yet to be filled, the first round of cabinet formation has drawn attention for all the wrong reasons.

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The situation worsened when senior leaders used Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge's visit to Bengaluru on Friday (June 5) to voice displeasure with the new CM’s decisions. The duo was in the state capital for the filing of the Congress president’s Rajya Sabha nomination papers.

Ramalinga Reddy's open revolt

The most jarring episode involved senior Congress minister Ramalinga Reddy, who had anticipated receiving the influential Greater Bengaluru Development portfolio — overseeing urban development, civic administration and the upcoming BBMP (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike) elections. Instead, he was handed the irrigation department.

Incensed, the veteran reportedly called Shivakumar late at night, accusing him of going back on a commitment made in 2023. Shivakumar, then the deputy chief minister, had promised to hand over the portfolio back to Reddy (which was offered to Reddy by former CM Siddaramiah, but Shivakumar took it). Reddy subsequently submitted his resignation, becoming the first minister to openly defy the new government, just two days after it took oath.

Shivakumar attempted to placate him by attributing the decision to the Congress high command in Delhi, but the episode has cast early doubt over whether the Chief Minister holds genuine authority over his own cabinet.

The unhappy lot in DKS government

The unrest continued. Senior Dalit leader KH Muniyappa also publicly voiced displeasure over being assigned the food and civil supplies department, a portfolio he had already held under Siddaramaiah. He demanded either the social welfare or the agriculture portfolio, warning he too could resign if ignored, and said the CM must treat all ministers without favouritism.

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Senior minister Satish Jarkiholi added to the embarrassment by publicly questioning Shivakumar's announcement of a Rs 1,000-crore assistance programme for 10,000 Bharat Jodo Youth Clubs, with each receiving an amount of Rs 10 lakh, arguing it would burden an already strained state exchequer. Jarkiholi also remarked that he was “neither happy nor unhappy” with his own portfolio (public works department) and would abide by the high command’s decision.

K J George, another senior minister, added his voice to the chorus of dissent, expressing frustration over the transfer of IAS officer Gaurav Gupta from the post of managing director at Karnataka Power Corporation Limited without his knowledge, and his replacement by Rajendra Cholan, the newly appointed principal secretary to Shivakumar. He felt that bypassing him on departmental appointments effectively hollows out his authority as minister. Both George and Muniyappa reportedly carried their grievances directly to Rahul and Kharge during their Bengaluru visit.

Minister Byrathi Suresh is similarly reported to be unhappy with the transport portfolio, having hoped for urban planning and development responsibilities, as per sources. That portfolio went to Dr Yathindra Siddaramaiah, son of the former CM and a widely influential figure within the new government. Suresh has privately suggested the decision was politically motivated by Shivakumar himself and wasn’t amused, the sources added.

HK Patil, another senior leader who is still awaiting cabinet accommodation, described the unfolding situation as “not a good sign” and warned they should serve as an alarm bell for DKS’s government. He handled parliamentary affairs and law when Siddaramaiah was in power.

Irked by public bickering, Rahul steps in

As the crisis deepened, Rahul convened a closed-door lunch meeting near Bengaluru International Airport, attended by Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah, Deputy CM G Parameshwara, Muniyappa, George, Kharge and the newly appointed president of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee, B K Hariprasad.

He reportedly expressed displeasure over the public airing of grievances and directed Shivakumar to resolve matters swiftly, warning that the drama was damaging the party's image. He made clear that disgruntled leaders must either be pacified or their resignations accepted — prolonged public discord was not an option. He also held separate talks with Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah, Kharge and Congress General Secretary K C Venugopal over the situation in Karnataka, which will go to Assembly polls in 2028 before the general elections in 2029.

Developments keep BJP interested

Sensing an opportunity, the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has swiftly acted to cash in on the Congress government’s troubles. Opposition leader R Ashoka and state party president BY Vijayendra asserted that the government’s first “wicket” has already fallen, forecasting further instability in the near future. They said if the current pace of cabinet infighting persists, the government may encounter significant political challenges much sooner than anticipated.

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For someone like Shivakumar, who has dedicated decades to political struggles and has long awaited his opportunity to become the chief minister, the true test may have only just begun. Within a mere two days of assuming office, he is confronted with portfolio disputes, resignations, factional lobbying, criticism from senior ministers, warnings from Rahul, and the lingering influence of Siddaramaiah, all of which have culminated in a major test for the new CM’s leadership.

The forthcoming cabinet expansion over the next few weeks and the final allocation of portfolios are now anticipated to be pivotal in determining whether he can establish his authority, or whether the Congress government will continue to be swayed by competing factions vying for power.

Siddaramaiah still a power centre?

What makes the situation more complicated for Shivakumar is that numerous discontented ministers and legislators are reportedly seeking Siddaramaiah’s counsel.

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“Kaveri”, the former CM’s abode in Bengaluru, is increasingly perceived as an alternative power hub within the government. Ministers who are pursuing changes in their portfolios and seeking greater influence are believed to be lobbying Siddaramaiah instead of directly approaching Shivakumar, underscoring the enduring impact of the former CM despite his exit from office.