Bengaluru: As Congress leaders in New Delhi weigh competing demands over Karnataka's leadership structure, a parallel contest has begun to take shape inside the party, with several leaders emerging as contenders to succeed D.K. Shivakumar as Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president.
The question of who controls the Congress organisation in Karnataka has moved to the centre of internal consultations, with speculation over a possible transition involving Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar.
Party leaders familiar with the discussions said the Congress high command is attempting to avoid a prolonged factional confrontation by pursuing a calibrated arrangement rather than a disruptive leadership overhaul.
Among the leaders gaining traction in internal discussions is Satish Jarkiholi, who several Congress functionaries view as an acceptable organisational figure capable of maintaining working relations across factions.
Other contenders include Industries Minister M.B. Patil, former Bengaluru Rural MP D.K. Suresh, and Home Minister G. Parameshwara, who are being discussed informally as possible contenders for the organisational post.
The next KPCC chief is expected to play a central role in managing both organisational cohesion and election preparation ahead of the 2028 Assembly polls.
