Senior Congress leader R.V. Deshpande said that Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar will be the next chief minister of Karnataka [1, 2].

The statement signals a potential rift within the state's ruling party and suggests an impending shift in power from current Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to Shivakumar.

Deshpande made the announcement during an appearance on the Blueprint programme on Times Now [1]. He said that internal party dynamics and the reported decision by the current chief minister to resign indicate a pending leadership change [2]. This public projection of a new leader comes amid reports of political instability within the region.

"DK Shivakumar will be the next Karnataka CM," Deshpande said [1].

The claim has been met with contradictions from the subject himself. In a separate statement to the Times of India, Shivakumar denied that he had been approached for the post and said he is focusing on his current responsibilities [3].

Despite the denial, supporters of the Deputy Chief Minister have taken the claims to the streets. Multiple cut-outs of Shivakumar identifying him as the next chief minister were displayed outside the Congress office in Bengaluru [4].

External political figures have also weighed in on the perceived instability. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the chief minister's chair is shaking in Karnataka, Kerala, and Punjab [5].

Deshpande's specific claims regarding the timing of the resignation were reported as occurring around May 28, 2024 [2]. This timeline aligns with the public display of banners and the subsequent media cycle regarding the leadership tussle in Bengaluru [4].

“"DK Shivakumar will be the next Karnataka CM."”

The public contradiction between R.V. Deshpande and D.K. Shivakumar highlights a volatile internal power struggle within the Karnataka Congress. While senior leaders are signaling a transition, the Deputy Chief Minister's formal denial suggests that either the transition is not yet official or there is a strategic effort to maintain stability while the party negotiates the succession.