Overview On 10 February 2026 , a fresh flare‑up in the Karnataka Congress emerged when Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar missed a crucial pre‑Budget meeting of the Water Resources and Bengaluru Urban Development Departments and flew to New Delhi . The move intensified the ongoing power‑sharing tussle with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and highlighted the role of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) and its president Mallikarjun Kharge in state‑level leadership decisions. Key Developments Development 1: D.K. Shivakumar skipped the pre‑Budget meeting, citing AICC‑related engagements in Delhi concerning the upcoming Assam Assembly elections , where he has been appointed the Congress election in‑charge. Development 2: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah reiterated that the party high‑command’s decision on any leadership change would be final, refusing to comment further and stating he would not travel to Delhi without a formal invitation. Development 3: Both leaders emphasized that no cabinet reshuffle or leadership change is expected until the conclusion of the Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu , as per Congress sources. Important Facts Fact 1: The article was published on 10 February 2026 at 07:16 pm IST , providing a timestamp for the political developments. Fact 2: Mallikarjun Kharge has directed Karnataka Congress leaders to refrain from public commentary on the power‑sharing issue, underscoring the centralised decision‑making approach of the party. UPSC Relevance This episode is pertinent to the UPSC syllabus under GS Paper II (Polity & Governance) – intra‑party democracy, federal‑state relations, and the role of high‑command in national parties. It also touches upon GS Paper III (Economy & Development) through the pre‑Budget meeting of key departments, and GS Paper I (Geography & Environment) indirectly via the Water Resources Department. Potential question angles include the impact of internal party dynamics on governance, the balance between state autonomy and central party directives, and the implications of leadership tussles on policy implementation. Way Forward While the immediate crisis appears contained, the underlying power‑sharing dispute may resurface ahead of the 2026 state elections in the southern belt. Observers should monitor how the AICC mediates between the two senior leaders, the effect of Shivakumar’s dual role as Deputy CM and Assam election in‑charge, and whether the Karnataka Congress can maintain a cohesive front to project effective governance in critical sectors like water resources and urban development.