In the backdrop of simmering political debates within the Karnataka Congress, a new development has taken shape — a move by Dalit ministers to hold a unity and gratitude convention aimed at acknowledging the support of Dalit and tribal voters in the party’s 2023 electoral victory. At the same time, speculation continues to swirl around the leadership equation in the state, particularly regarding the future of Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and his prospects of succeeding Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

Former Congress MP DK Suresh, who is also the younger brother of DK Shivakumar, sought to downplay the political chatter on Wednesday, describing his brother’s possible elevation as a matter of destiny rather than ambition. “If it’s written in his fate, he will become chief minister. If not, he won’t. Why should we break our heads over it?” he remarked, in a tone meant to douse speculation that the Shivakumar camp was pushing for a change in leadership.

Suresh also clarified that his earlier statements expressing the desire to see Shivakumar as chief minister were merely personal sentiments, not a reflection of internal lobbying. “It was my personal wish, nothing more. He is the state Congress president and deputy chief minister. His job is to work hard and ensure that the party remains untarnished. He’s doing that job well,” Suresh added, attempting to portray the family as loyal to the existing leadership structure.

His comments come at a time when the political atmosphere in Karnataka is charged with subtle signals of internal competition and external pressure. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, whose term has witnessed consistent speculation about power-sharing arrangements, recently asserted that he would continue in office for the full five-year term with the Congress high command’s approval. His statement appeared to be both a message of confidence and a warning to detractors seeking an early transition.

Fueling the conversation further, AHINDA (an acronym for minorities, backward classes, and Dalits) organisations have launched a campaign urging the Congress leadership in Delhi to allow Siddaramaiah to complete his tenure. These groups, long associated with Siddaramaiah’s political base, argue that continuity in leadership is essential to maintain the government’s stability and ensure that welfare initiatives reach their intended beneficiaries.

Amid these discussions, a parallel development within the Congress ranks has caught attention — the revival of plans by several Dalit ministers to host a large-scale convention under the banner Dalita Aikyatha Samavesha (Dalit Unity Conference). The proposed event, which may take place in Chitradurga or Davanagere next month, is being led by Home Minister Dr. G. Parameshwara along with fellow cabinet colleagues Satish Jarkiholi, KH Muniyappa, HC Mahadevappa, and RB Thimmapur.

According to these ministers, the convention is envisioned as a gesture of gratitude to Dalit and tribal communities, who overwhelmingly supported the Congress during the 2023 assembly elections. The party’s resounding victory in reserved constituencies — 31 of 36 Scheduled Caste seats and 14 of 15 Scheduled Tribe seats — demonstrated the community’s decisive influence in returning the Congress to power.

“This is not a political manoeuvre but an expression of thankfulness,” Parameshwara said after meeting Mahadevappa in Bengaluru. “Dalit voters stood firmly with the Congress, and it is our responsibility to acknowledge their faith. We should tell them what the government has done so far and what it plans for the future.”

Interestingly, this is not the first time such a convention has been proposed. An earlier plan for a Dalit unity event was reportedly shelved after the party’s central leadership withheld clearance, fearing that it might be perceived as factional or as a signal of discontent among Dalit leaders. The revival of the idea now suggests a growing confidence among Dalit ministers that the time is ripe for asserting the community’s role in the Congress’s success, while also ensuring that their expectations from governance are met.

The move has, however, coincided with renewed talk of a potential Dalit chief minister in the state. Recent remarks by Yathindra Siddaramaiah, the chief minister’s son and an MLC, stirred speculation when he described Satish Jarkiholi as “best suited” to guide the Congress after his father’s retirement from active politics. The comment was widely interpreted as a signal that sections within the party were opening the door to a broader discussion on leadership succession.

Adding to the intrigue, party workers in Kolar recently raised slogans in support of KH Muniyappa as the next chief minister, while Parameshwara himself publicly praised Muniyappa, citing his long and distinguished record in public life. Yet, Muniyappa himself sought to dispel any perception of factionalism. “Parameshwara is one of our most respected leaders. He served as KPCC president for eight years and as deputy chief minister. If there’s talk of a Dalit CM, he would be a natural contender. But this is not the time to discuss it. Siddaramaiah will continue for a full term,” he stated firmly.

Parameshwara, for his part, reiterated that the Dalit Unity Convention was not a platform for internal politics but a forum to engage with community aspirations. “We must listen to the demands of the Dalit community and assure them of a secure future. This is not against the interests of the party,” he said. Jarkiholi echoed his colleague’s sentiment, emphasising patience and collective decision-making. “We will wait patiently and always act in the interest of the party,” he remarked.

Political observers note that the Congress high command will be watching these developments closely. The party’s national president, Mallikarjun Kharge, himself a senior Dalit leader from Karnataka, along with his son and state minister Priyank Kharge, lends an added layer of complexity to the political equation. The Kharge family’s prominence naturally makes any Dalit mobilisation within the state Congress politically sensitive, as it could either reinforce the party’s social coalition or be seen as creating multiple power centres within it.

While the Congress leadership has managed to maintain relative calm between the Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar camps so far, internal balancing acts remain a delicate affair. The question of succession has lingered since the formation of the government in 2023, when an informal understanding was believed to exist between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar regarding a possible mid-term rotation of the chief minister’s post — though neither leader has ever confirmed it publicly.

For now, DK Suresh’s remarks appear designed to project an image of unity and submission to fate, in line with the party’s desire to project stability. But beneath that calm surface, the Dalit ministers’ renewed activism signals a reminder to the leadership that the Congress’s electoral strength rests heavily on the loyalty of its most marginalised voters. How the high command manages this balancing act — between acknowledging Dalit empowerment, maintaining caste and regional harmony, and keeping leadership ambitions in check — will determine the party’s internal cohesion in the months ahead.

As the Dalita Aikyatha Samavesha takes shape, it promises to be more than a mere “gratitude gathering.” It is likely to become a platform where Karnataka’s Dalit leaders assert their collective identity and reaffirm their place within the Congress’s broader ideological and electoral framework. In a state where caste politics and leadership symbolism intertwine deeply, the convention could emerge as both a celebration of solidarity and a subtle assertion of political relevance. Whether it remains a gesture of thanks or evolves into a rallying point for a new phase of Dalit assertion within Karnataka Congress will depend on the response it draws from the party’s top brass — in Bengaluru and in Delhi alike.