Karnataka Leadership Row Intensifies As Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar Hold Crucial Breakfast Meeting

Delhi: In an effort to ease the escalating tensions within the Karnataka Congress over the Chief Ministerial leadership, CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar met on Saturday morning for a breakfast discussion aimed at breaking the political deadlock. The meeting comes amid growing pressure from party workers and increasing speculation over a possible leadership change.

After the breakfast meeting in Bengaluru, Shivakumar is scheduled to fly to Delhi to brief the top leadership, including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi, about the ongoing crisis.

Despite the storm brewing within the party, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has remained firm on his stand that the final decision belongs to the Congress high command. Reiterating his position on Friday, Siddaramaiah said, “The high command has called both of us, so I have invited him (DK Shivakumar) for breakfast, and we will talk there. As I said earlier, I will accept whatever the high command says; there is no change in my stand. Even he (DK Shivakumar) said that whatever the high command says we’ll follow that…”

Shivakumar, who has been at the centre of speculation regarding a mid-term leadership change, once again stressed that any decision rests solely with the party. Responding to questions about his supporters pushing for him to become the next Chief Minister, he said, “The party workers may be eager, but I am in no hurry. The party will take all the decisions.”

Both leaders have also been sending subtle signals through social media posts. Siddaramaiah posted a philosophical message saying “a word is not power unless it betters the world,” while Shivakumar countered with “word power is world power.”

According to party insiders, Shivakumar has been referring to a “secret agreement” allegedly made among senior Congress leaders in 2023, suggesting he would take over the Chief Minister’s post after two and a half years. This claim has intensified lobbying efforts among his loyalists, increasing pressure on the national leadership to intervene.

The Congress high command is expected to address the issue following the party’s strategy meeting ahead of the winter session of Parliament on November 30. Both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar have publicly committed to honouring whatever decision the leadership announces.