Bengaluru, Dec. 29 -- The defining images of Karnataka's politics in 2025 were not election rallies or dramatic policy confrontations, but a series of attempts at reconciliation to settle a deeper struggle for power. From public shows of unity to behind the scenes manoeuvring, the year unfolded as one of political uncertainty, with leadership questions inside the ruling Congress shaping governance and dominating public discourse.

At the centre of this turbulence was the uneasy relationship between chief minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy, DK Shivakumar. As the Congress government crossed the halfway mark of its five year term, clarity over who would lead it through the remainder remained elusive. Siddaramaiah, a seasoned mass leader wi...