Shivakumar’s media in-charge Thyagaraj joins wordplay over CM–Dy.CM shadow-boxing

Bengaluru

The political wordplay surrounding the reported tussle between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister (Dy.CM) D K Shivakumar appears to be far from over. What began as subtle political signalling has now evolved into a sustained exchange of carefully crafted statements and social media posts. 

The latest entrant into this ongoing narrative is P Thyagaraj, media in-charge of the Dy.CM, who has added fresh momentum to the debate through his recent remarks online.

Since November, the wordplay over the alleged “word” (promise) said to have been given by Siddaramaiah to Shivakumar has been playing out prominently across social media platforms and political circles. It is widely believed in party circles that Siddaramaiah had assured Shivakumar in 2023 that he would relinquish power after completing two-and-a-half years as Chief Minister. 

In simple terms, Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah had reportedly entered into a power-sharing arrangement at the time of government formation. While Shivakumar has publicly and repeatedly claimed the existence of such an understanding, Siddaramaiah has maintained silence and has not directly acknowledged any such pact.

Shivakumar, along with his brother D K Suresh, has spoken and written about this “word,” often in a tone perceived as taunting, suggesting that the promise has allegedly not been honoured. Siddaramaiah, in turn, responded with wordplay of his own, reframing the debate around governance and public welfare rather than political agreements.

On Monday (February 23, 2026), Thyagaraj joined the chorus. On his Facebook and Instagram accounts, he wrote in Kannada: “ನಾವು ಆಡುವ ಮಾತನ್ನು, ನಮ್ಮ ನಾಲಿಗೆಯಾದರೂ ನಂಬುವಂತೆ ಇರಬೇಕು.” This translates to: “let our words be true that, at least our own tongue trusts what it speaks.” The post was widely interpreted as a pointed remark in the context of the ongoing leadership speculation.

Earlier, in November 2025, Shivakumar had posted a cryptic message on social media platforms stating, “word power is world power. The biggest force in the world is to keep one’s word. Be it a judge, president or anyone else including myself, everyone has to walk the talk, word power is world power.” The message triggered intense political discussion, with many reading it as an indirect reminder of the ‘agreement’.

Siddaramaiah responded to what was widely viewed as a veiled taunt, stating, “word power is not power, unless it betters the world of the people. Our word to Karnataka is not a slogan, it means a world to us.” He posted this message on social media while highlighting the success of the Shakti scheme, which provides free bus travel for women across Karnataka.

Sources within the Congress indicate that while Shivakumar is making determined efforts to assume the top post, the party High Command has yet to grant a green signal for any leadership transition. According to insiders, no change in leadership is expected until the completion of the Assam and Kerala Assembly elections, suggesting that the shadow boxing may continue in the political and digital arenas for some time.