Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar attended a late-night dinner on Thursday evening alongside more than forty MLAs at the farmhouse of Congress leader Praveen Doddananavar. However, when approached
by reporters, Shivakumar clarified that the dinner was purely a social occasion.
Those present at the gathering included senior party leaders and legislators such as ST Somashekhar, Shivaram Hebbar, Harris, Magadi Balakrishna, Iqbal Hussain, Ganiga Ravi, Dinesh Gooligowda, and Ravi, among others.
The meeting, which extended into the night, saw a mix of discussions and informal interactions, reflecting the camaraderie within the party’s legislative wing.
Later, talking to reporters, Shivakumar said, “Nothing political, went to have dinner after a Congress leader invited me,” stressing that there was no agenda linked to party affairs or legislative strategy.
The event comes amid heightened attention on Karnataka’s political developments, including debates surrounding leadership roles within the state Congress and legislative initiatives.
Earlier, Shivakumar had said that “Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will respond” to the recent remarks made by MLC Yathindra over the chief minister’s post within the state government.
Congress MLC Yathindra Siddaramaiah, who is also the son of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, stated earlier that the Chief Minister would continue in office for the full five-year term.
“The Chief Minister will respond to him,” Shivakumar said on Thursday while speaking to reporters at the Circuit House and Suvarna Soudha in Belagavi, where the winter session of the state legislature is underway.
Turning to the controversy over the Hate Speech Prevention Bill, which the state government is preparing to introduce, Shivakumar strongly criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party for opposing the proposal.
The recent tensions began after Yathindra said on Monday that those predicting a change in the Chief Minister’s post were “dreaming”. He said the Congress high command had already made it clear that there would be no change in the state’s leadership.
Yathindra said, “Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has said he is an aspirant for the chief minister’s post.
In response, the high command has clarified that this is not the appropriate time and also made it clear that there will be no change in the Chief Minister.”
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