As Leadership Speculation Swirls, Shivakumar Insists Ties With Siddaramaiah Are Intact

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Sunday again rejected talk of strained ties with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, asserting that he never took any MLAs to Delhi amid speculation over leadership

changes that had erupted earlier.The comments came a day after the two top leaders held a closely watched breakfast meeting at Siddaramaiah’s official residence, a move widely seen as an attempt by the party high command to end weeks of tension over the state’s leadership arrangement. Both men later told reporters they were united and committed to working together.

Speaking to the media on Sunday, Shivakumar dismissed claims that he took MLAs to Delhi to lobby for the chief minister's post. “I never took a single MLA with me. I could have taken 10 or 12, but there was no purpose,” he said.Shivakumar, who also heads the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee, described himself as a “father figure” to party members. “I have to take everyone along. All 140 MLAs are dear to me. I don’t differentiate. I have no differences with anyone,” he said.He also recalled his efforts to keep the Congress-JD(S) coalition government intact during H D Kumaraswamy’s tenure in 2018–19. Responding to Kumaraswamy’s recent criticism that Shivakumar had sought backing from religious leaders during an internal power tussle, he said he never asked any pontiff to speak on his behalf. “It is their love for me. Should I call that wrong?” he said.Attacking the BJP for weighing in on the leadership issue, he added, “The BJP can say anything for survival. Should we take them seriously?”The Deputy CM said that he wants to convene an all-party meeting in Delhi to highlight host of issues pertaining to the state, including farmers issue and Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir project, in view of parliament session starting from December 1.

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Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar appeared together after their meeting on Saturday, and insisted that media reports had wrongly portrayed their relationship. “Some unwanted confusion was created. We don’t have differences today, and there won’t be any in the future,” Siddaramaiah said.Both leaders said they would respect the party high command’s decisions and work jointly toward the 2028 assembly elections. The breakfast meeting was held at the direction of the Congress leadership in Delhi, after BJP and JD(S) leaders publicly questioned the stability of the 2.5-year-old government and warned of a possible no-confidence motion if the dispute continued.Siddaramaiah said that his government enjoyed the full support of Congress MLAs and ministers. “We will face the assembly. We have prepared a strategy to counter the BJP and JD(S),” he said.Shivakumar later said the Congress would fight the next assembly election under the leadership of AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi. He added that discussions at the breakfast meeting included strategies to counter the opposition and handle any no-confidence motion during the winter session in Belagavi.

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The meeting drew considerable political attention as it took place shortly after the Congress government crossed the halfway mark of its term, a point when Shivakumar has hinted he was promised a rotational chief ministership.Meanwhile, Opposition leaders were quick to mock the public display of harmony. BJP leader R Ashoka said the Congress was papering over deep cracks and accused the high command of lacking authority. Kumaraswamy also criticised the meeting as “drama,” alleging that people were not convinced by the attempt to project unity.