BENGALURU: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar wished Chief Minister Siddaramaiah "good luck" on Tuesday after Siddaramaiah expressed optimism about completing a full five-year term in office. The Chief Minister emphasized that while he is confident in serving his term, the final decision will depend on the Congress high command.

Responding to inquiries regarding Siddaramaiah's confident remarks, Shivakumar stated, “Let good things happen. I wish him all the best. Good luck.” He deflected suggestions of confusion around the Chief Minister's statement, asserting, “You (the media) are creating confusion. We don’t have any confusion. You have confusion. I wish him all the best, good luck.” Shivakumar further congratulated Siddaramaiah as he equaled the record of Devaraj Urs for the longest-serving chief minister in Karnataka history.

Siddaramaiah recently completed 2,792 days in office, matching Urs’ record. He is on track to surpass it on January 7, demonstrating significant political resilience. In light of this milestone, Shivakumar added, “I wish him success. May God bless him. I pray that God gives him good health and the opportunity to serve the people.”

Despite the recent show of unity, a power struggle within the ruling Congress party is evident, heightened by speculation regarding a possible shift in leadership after the government reached the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20. This speculation is fueled by earlier reports of a “power-sharing” arrangement between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar when the Congress government was formed in 2023. As the political landscape in Karnataka evolves, the implications of these dynamics remain crucial for the state’s governance and for the constituents they serve.