Modi's Vibhishan?

I have seen enough in politics to know that nothing is ever what it seems. In Karnataka today, the tension within the Congress is palpable. Conversations in political circles revolve around one burning question: Is DK Shivakumar the Vibhishan of the state’s politics? Is he preparing to cross over to the BJP, or is this just another battle in his long and turbulent career?  

I have watched this drama unfold up close, and one thing is clear—Shivakumar is not a man who plays second fiddle for long. His rivalry with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is no secret. Their supporters are no longer whispering behind closed doors; the fight has spilled out into the open. Some within the Congress say the party is on the verge of a split. Leader of the Opposition, R. Ashok, has openly claimed that several *Eknath Shindes* exist in Karnataka Congress. And the BJP, always adept at political engineering, is watching and waiting.  

The murmurs of Shivakumar’s ideological shift have only grown louder. His presence at Sadhguru’s Mahashivaratri event, where he shared the stage with Amit Shah, sent Congress loyalists into a frenzy. AICC Secretary PV Mohan took to social media, questioning how a senior Congress leader could align himself, even momentarily, with someone who mocks Rahul Gandhi and echoes the RSS’s narrative. The message was clear—Shivakumar was sending signals, whether intentional or not.  

I remember the uproar that followed when he visited Prayagraj for the Mahakumbh. The symbolism was lost on no one. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge’s sarcastic response—*"Will taking a dip at the Sangam eradicate poverty?"*—was telling. But Shivakumar didn’t back down. He went a step further, openly praising Yogi Adityanath’s handling of the event. That wasn’t just religious devotion; that was politics.  

For months now, I have heard whispers of a power-sharing deal between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar. The agreement, if it exists, is clearly being tested. Shivakumar has always been a man of ambition. I remember him once quoting his mentor, SM Krishna: *“If power is not given, it must be taken.”

And that’s what this is really about. Shivakumar is not a man who waits for permission. The question is, how far will he go?  

Is he positioning himself as an alternative within the Congress, ready to take over when Siddaramaiah steps down? Or is he laying the groundwork for something much bigger—a shift that could change Karnataka politics entirely?  

If the Congress leadership believes Shivakumar will wait patiently for his turn, they are mistaken. Political ambition doesn’t wait. Power struggles don’t resolve themselves.  

I have seen leaders rise and fall, and the one truth I have learned is this—those who hesitate in politics often lose. Congress must decide whether it wants to contain the storm or be swept away by it. And as for Shivakumar, if he truly is *Modi’s Vibhishan*, the day of reckoning may not be far.  

For now, I watch and wait—like everyone else—because Karnataka’s political story is far from over.