Belagavi, 24 Oct

Congress heavyweight and influential North Karnataka leader Satish Jarkiholi has reportedly decided not to pursue the chief Minister’s post before the 2028 Assembly elections, preferring instead to aim for a full five-year term thereafter.

Sources close to the Jarkiholi family said the minister believes taking charge now would offer only a brief stint, limiting his influence and legacy. “If the chief minister’s post comes now, it’s only for a few months. I’m more interested in the full term after 2028,” he is learnt to have told associates.

Party insiders view his move as a strategic calculation. Should Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah step down early, his deputy DK Shivakumar is expected to take over, making him the natural choice for the 2028 race. However, if Siddaramaiah continues until late in his term, Jarkiholi could emerge as a key contender for the next tenure.

A close aide of Siddaramaiah, Jarkiholi recognises that unseating both the chief minister and State party chief is impractical for now. Instead, he is focusing on consolidating his base in north Karnataka, where he commands support from 40–45 MLAs, and is eyeing the KPCC president’s post to strengthen his hold over the party machinery.

His goal, insiders say, is to expand his influence to secure 60–65 seats in 2028, a target that could make him a formidable chief minister candidate. Party observers believe Siddaramaiah may even favour this long-term arrangement, potentially paving the way for Jarkiholi to assume leadership after the next elections if Congress retains power.

Will speak to people who should be spoken to: DKS

Meanwhile, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Friday said he will speak to the person who should be spoken to.

Siddaramaiah has repeatedly stated that he intends to complete his full five-year term. However, his equation with Shivakumar has remained a point of political interest since the Congress’s 2023 Assembly victory, when both leaders vied for the top post.

At the time, reports suggested a possible “rotational CM formula” under which Shivakumar might take over after two and a half years, though the party never confirmed it officially.