Siddaramaiah to Host DK Shivakumar for Breakfast After Call from High Command - What’s the Latest in Karnataka Power Tussle?

Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has invited his Deputy DK Shivakumar for breakfast on Saturday, in order to ease of some tension, amid the power tussle for Chief Minister's post. The development

has reportedly come after a call from the High Command went to both the senior leaders, after the two engaged in a 'word war' on X, in an attempt to remain ahead in the narrative game and indirectly signalling their positions to leaders sitting in New Delhi."The party high command had called me and him (DK Shivkumar) and asked us to have a meeting. Hence, I have invited him for breakfast tomorrow. We will discuss when he comes," PTI quoted Siddaramaiah telling reporters."There is no change in my stand and I have said I will listen to whatever the high command says. Both of us have said that we will obey whatever the party high command says," he added. The chief minister also said that he will go to Delhi if the high command calls him.

'Delhi Is Our Temple': What Shivakumar Said When Asked About Meeting High Command

Earlier in the day, Shivakumar, the Congress state president replied in the affirmative when asked if he would go to Delhi and meet the party high command, saying "Delhi is our temple.""I don't want anything. I am not in a hurry. My party will take a decision," he told reporters on the sidelines of a function marking the golden jubilee of the Anganwadi programme, where he shared the stage with the CM.He said he may travel to the national capital in view of the Parliament's winter session starting December 1.On his visit to the national capital, he said, "I may go to Delhi.""I have a lot of work there. The parliament session is approaching. I have to meet all Karnataka MPs because they need to take up some of our projects," he said.Asked whether he would meet the party high command, Shivakumar said he would."Delhi is our temple. All of us have to go. Without Delhi, nothing can happen. Congress is a party with a long history, and it has always guided us," he said.Shivakumar added that the Congress leadership decides party policy, and that both he and the Siddaramaiah would go to Delhi whenever called.Interestingly, Priyank Kharge earlier in the day said the Congress high command possesses the sense of timing to resolve the intensifying "power tussle" between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar.

When Siddaramaiah-Shivakumar Engaged in 'Word War'

As the power tussle between two senior Congress leaders continues to grow loud, Siddaramaiah has repeatedly maintained that he has the mandate for full 5 years, denying that there is going to be any change in the leadership.Deputy CM Shivakumar, has also conveyed that he was not in a hurry. With that said, both of them resorted to X, formerly Twitter, engaging in a war of words.Shivakumar was the first to start when he posted a cryptic message on X saying, "Word Power is World Power... keeping one's word is the greatest strength in the world."Responding to DK's post, Siddaramaiah also posted on X and said, "A word is not power unless it betters the world for the people," emphasising that he has the mandate for 5 years.Meanwhile, the opposition BJP warned of moving a no-confidence motion should the tussle continue, while also pointing out at the possibility of a 'dark horse' emerging in the midst of the tussle.With inputs from PTI