What Triggered Fresh Leadership Chatter in Karnataka? Hint: It Involves CM Siddaramaiah's Close Aide

A brief meeting between Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and senior minister Satish Jarkiholi at a wedding has stirred fresh speculation about the ongoing leadership tussle within Karnataka’s ruling Congress.Jarkiholi, considered close to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, has long been seen as holding differences with Shivakumar, who also heads the state Congress unit. Their meeting on Thursday night was the second in two weeks, following a similar interaction on November 25. Political circles have been abuzz with reports that Shivakumar may be seeking Jarkiholi’s support for his chief ministerial ambitions or offering him the state Congress president’s post.Both leaders on Friday dismissed the talk, saying their meeting was a routine encounter

at a social function.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pra17hFjAKk

“We meet often - in Cabinet, over dinner, even for breakfast. Yesterday’s meeting was no different,” Shivakumar told reporters. He added that discussions among colleagues frequently focus on state issues, including investment and competition from neighbouring states.Acknowledging the meeting, he said, “We spoke about party and state matters. We are colleagues; you (the media) think of us as enemies.” Asked about the speculation surrounding their conversation, he said, “Politics has friendship and bonding. Nothing more.”Jarkiholi also downplayed the interaction, saying they had dinner together and spoke briefly. When asked whether they held a separate 15-minute discussion, he joked that it may have been longer.“There was nothing unusual. We didn’t even know the other would be attending,” he said.He denied suggestions that Shivakumar might step down as state party chief in his favor, calling such talk premature. Asked if the Deputy CM had sought his support, Jarkiholi replied, “No. The party will decide.”He added that tensions in the party “seem to have eased for now,” though he declined to say whether the truce was temporary.Meanwhile, Shivakumar met Ministers MB Patil and Priyank Kharge on Friday, prompting further speculation that he was rallying support within the cabinet. Patil, however, described their meeting as purely administrative, focused on investment and infrastructure.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYeBsJUpJ0A

The Congress government crossed the midway mark of its five-year term on November 20, reigniting chatter about a possible change in chief minister under an alleged 2023 power-sharing formula between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar. The party high command recently directed the two leaders to hold joint meetings to present a united front ahead of the December 8 Belagavi legislature session.Later on Friday, about 15 seers from backward community maths met Shivakumar and publicly extended support to him. Pranavananda Swamiji of the Idiga community said many believe Shivakumar deserves to be chief minister and urged the party to “keep its word.” The delegation also requested land for maths in Bengaluru and asked him to lead a proposed conclave of backward communities.