BENGALURU: As speculation over a possible leadership change in Karnataka gathered pace over the last few days, social media quickly transformed into a battleground of fandom, nostalgia and political “aura farming.”The moment rumours began circulating that chief minister Siddaramaiah could step down and deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar might take over, supporters of both leaders flooded social media with edits, speeches, memes and emotional throwbacks. Within hours, timelines on X, Instagram and YouTube were packed with cinematic compilations celebrating the two Congress heavyweights.For Siddaramaiah’s supporters, the mood online was largely sentimental. Videos of the veteran leader dancing at public events, emotional moments involving his staff, and clips of legislators greeting him warmly inside Vidhana Soudha resurfaced widely. One particular video showing leaders walking up to Siddaramaiah’s seat to greet him was repeatedly shared with dramatic movie background scores.Old speeches also made a comeback. His sharp remarks against Janardhana Reddy in Ballari and fiery exchanges inside the Assembly were reposted across platforms, with users calling him a grounded mass leader who “never forgot his roots.”“Siddaramaiah is loved not just for his politics, but for the person he is,” wrote one user on X while sharing his dance video.Meanwhile, supporters of D K Shivakumar leaned into his political journey and resilience. Several edits traced his rise from a student leader to one of the Congress party’s most influential faces in Karnataka politics. Clips of his speeches were stitched together with dramatic visuals, including edits featuring animated fire emojis in his eyes.Videos from the period of his imprisonment also resurfaced, especially his remarks about continuing to fight politically without backing down. Supporters used the hashtag “DKforCM” extensively while projecting him as the party’s most loyal troubleshooter.But beyond the individual fan edits, what perhaps resonated the most online were videos celebrating the camaraderie between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar since the Congress came to power in 2023. Set to friendship-themed songs and emotional background music, the edits painted the two leaders less as rivals and more as political partners navigating Karnataka’s power corridors together.The internet, meanwhile, did not miss its lighter moments either. Amid the intense political chatter, users also joked about whether Shivakumar would finally shave his trademark beard if he eventually became chief minister.
