CM Siddaramaiah & DCM Shivakumar exchange “Word, World” posts on X amid power struggle
Siddaramaiah emphasises governance for people, while Shivakumar stresses honoring promises
Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar traded indirect messages on social media on Thursday, highlighting a deepening power struggle within the Congress government over the chief ministerial post.
The latest friction emerged after Shivakumar wrote on X that “Word power is world power,” implying that commitments made in 2023 regarding a rotational chief ministership must be honoured. His remark was widely seen as a reminder to both Siddaramaiah and the Congress leadership of the alleged pact under which he would take over the CM position mid-term.
ಕೊಟ್ಟ ಮಾತು ಉಳಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳುವುದೇ ವಿಶ್ವದಲ್ಲಿರುವ ದೊಡ್ಡ ಶಕ್ತಿ! pic.twitter.com/klregNRUtv
— DK Shivakumar (@DKShivakumar) November 27, 2025
Siddaramaiah responded with a similar statement, but reframed the focus toward governance: “A word is not power unless it betters the world for the people.” He stressed that the government’s priority is fulfilling promises like the Shakti free-bus travel scheme, asserting that the party is committed to serving the full five-year mandate given by the people.
A Word is not power unless it betters the World for the people.
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) November 27, 2025
Proud to declare that the Shakti scheme has delivered over 600 crore free trips to the women of our state. From the very first month of forming the government, we transformed our guarantees into action; not in… pic.twitter.com/lke1J7MnbD
The exchange comes as the Congress high command prepares to intervene to end growing uncertainty. Supporters of both leaders have intensified pressure, with rival community organisations warning against any move that sidelines their respective leaders.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has called a meeting of senior leaders and assured that no decision will be taken without broad consultation. The party is concerned that the open internal rift could affect its public image, especially as the BJP works to strengthen its position in Karnataka.
The crisis resurfaced when the government crossed its halfway mark on November 20. Reports suggest that Siddaramaiah was to serve the first 30 months, followed by Shivakumar for the remainder of the term. While Shivakumar’s camp seeks clarity on the supposed agreement, Siddaramaiah has repeatedly insisted he intends to complete the full tenure until 2028.
Siddaramaiah’s son and Congress MLC Yathindra Siddaramaiah dismissed the need for a leadership change, stating that the chief minister enjoys the support of legislators and has delivered effective governance. The final decision, he said, lies with the party’s central leadership.
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Naval information leak case: Fourth accused held
Udupi (Karnataka) (PTI): The Udupi police have arrested another accused in a case involving the alleged transmission of confidential information related to the Indian Navy to Pakistan, taking the total number of arrests to four, officials said on Thursday.
The arrested accused has been identified as Alif Islam (21), a native of West Bengal, who was presently residing at Marayur village in Idukki district of Kerala, they said.
He was apprehended in connection with the alleged leak of a confidential list containing identification numbers of Indian naval vessels, police said.
According to investigators, the accused are suspected to have shared sensitive information through WhatsApp and Facebook with contacts in Pakistan without authorisation.
The case was registered at Malpe police station in 2025 following a complaint regarding the alleged illegal transmission of naval-related data, officials said.
Police said the investigation pertains to the alleged sharing of a classified list of ship numbers linked to the Indian Navy.
In November 2025, two accused -- Rohit and Santri from Uttar Pradesh -- were taken into custody in connection with the same case. Later, Hirendra Kumar from Gujarat was arrested in December 2025.
With the latest arrest, the number of persons held in the case has risen to four.
Police said one more accused is yet to be apprehended. The operator of the Facebook page allegedly used to transmit the information also remains at large.
Investigators suspect that Islam may be a Bangladeshi national, and efforts are on to verify his citizenship and other credentials.
Further investigation is under way, police added.
