Shivakumar Deflects CM Succession Talk, Says 'Time Will Answer'

He says the Congress high command alone will decide any change in Karnataka’s leadership.

Overview

Speaking at India Today Conclave South 2025 on September 9, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar declined to say if he would replace Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, remarking, "Time will answer."
Shivakumar stated that decisions on leadership rest entirely with the party’s central leadership and the state’s collective leadership structure.
He rejected talk of factions in the Karnataka Congress, saying there is only one faction in the party, and affirmed he will remain with Congress for life.
He emphasized that the government’s priority is delivering on commitments and providing good governance, stressing unity in the administration.
Recent speculation has followed MLA-level backing for Shivakumar and AICC consultations in June, though Siddaramaiah had said after those meetings that he would serve a full five-year term.