Overview

• Congress MLAs including Ravikumar Gowda and Tanveer Sait have publicly backed DK Shivakumar, with Gowda claiming support from about 138 legislators.
• BJP leaders have accused both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar of engaging in 'horse trading' by allegedly using money and power to win MLA support.
• High command emissaries have conducted individual meetings to assess support, but those efforts have not prevented MLAs from publicly voicing leadership preferences.
• Unconfirmed internal reviews of ministerial performance and Siddaramaiah’s appointment to a national OBC advisory council have intensified speculation of a planned leadership reshuffle.
• No formal announcement of a change at the chief ministerial post has been made despite intensified rivalry and public endorsements for Shivakumar.