India, Feb. 22 -- The leadership tussle within the Indian National Congress in Karnataka between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar has resurfaced, this time over a foreign tour by party legislators, despite instructions from the party high command to refrain from public statements on any change of leadership.

The latest flashpoint emerged when a group of Congress MLAs and Members of the Legislative Council (MLCs), largely perceived to be aligned with Siddaramaiah, planned a visit to Australia and New Zealand. The development triggered renewed political debate amid ongoing speculation over a potential leadership transition in the state.

The controversy comes even after Congress president Mallikarjun Kha...