Is Siddaramaiah losing ground amid land grab allegations?

Cracks seem to be appearing within Siddaramaiah's administration as the Chief Minister faces probe in the alleged MUDA land scam. His deputy DK Shivakumar recently skipped a key event where he was supposed to accompany the Chief Minister, raising eyebrows in political circles.

In Short

• Cracks appear in Siddaramaiah's administration
• Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar skips key event
• Senior leaders eye chief minister's post amid MUDA case

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah seems to be facing a new challenge as visible cracks appear within his administration. At the World Senior Citizens Day event held on Tuesday at Ravindra Kalakshetra, the typically bustling crowd of Cabinet ministers and party leaders accompanying the Chief Minister was notably thin. Only the hosting minister, Laxmi Hebbalkar, was present, sparking speculation about internal unrest following recent developments surrounding the Enforcement Directorate investigation.

A key figure missing from the event was Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar. Despite being scheduled to attend alongside Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar skipped the event, fuelling rumours of a rift between the two leaders.

Shivakumar, who had expressed his desire to ascend to the chief minister's chair after the Karnataka Assembly election, appears to be distancing himself from Siddaramaiah in light of recent political scandals.

Shivakumar has been a vocal defender of Siddaramaiah as the Chief Minister faces charges in the alleged MUDA land scam, but has recently stepped back from his usual role. Last week, after Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge issued a statement on the matter, Shivakumar deferred further questions, simply stating that Kharge had already addressed the issue. His sudden silence has been perceived as a shift in his stance on Siddaramaiah's leadership.

Adding fuel to the fire, on Monday morning, Shivakumar made an unexpected visit to the residence of Home Minister G Parameshwara. Sources claim the two discussed the possible future of the chief minister's position, raising eyebrows in political circles. The timing of this meeting, amid growing scrutiny on Siddaramaiah, is seen by many as a strategic move by Shivakumar to solidify his bid for leadership.

Several senior leaders, including MB Patil and Basavaraj Rayareddy, have openly voiced their interest in the chief minister’s post, especially as the MUDA case continues to create ripples in the political landscape. Rather than rallying around Siddaramaiah, many seem to be positioning themselves for the top job, signalling a potential shift in Karnataka’s political dynamics.

With the political landscape shifting, questions remain about whether Siddaramaiah can maintain his hold on the chief minitser's chair, or if growing ambitions within his party will ultimately challenge his leadership.