CM Siddaramaiah, Deputy CM DK Shivakumar receive Rahul Gandhi at Mysuru airport amid power tussle

MYSURU: Amid speculation about a leadership change in Karnataka, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar met Congress MP Rahul Gandhi at Mysuru airport on Tuesday. The two leaders also held talks before Rahul Gandhi arrived in Mysuru after his visit to Tamil Nadu.

Rahul Gandhi arrived in Mysuru on Tuesday afternoon, amidst a brief stopover, before heading to Gudlur in Tamil Nadu to participate in the the golden jubilee celebrations of St Thomas English High. He was received at the Mysuru airport by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar.

#WATCH | Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi was welcomed by Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar at Mysuru airport

(Source: Karnataka CMO) pic.twitter.com/A4HX0iDLW6

— ANI (@ANI) January 13, 2026

Rahul Gandhi’s visit was initially expected to be a courtesy call, with no official discussions planned. The Congress leaders’ meeting comes after a series of disagreements within the party. Rahul Gandhi’s 15-minute stopover in Mysuru was marked by a brief exchange of pleasantries with the CM and Deputy CM, before he boarded a helicopter to Tamil Nadu.

Notably, DK Shivakumar was seen walking separately to his car, without engaging with the media or Siddaramaiah. The CM presented Rahul Gandhi with a miniature replica of the Mysuru Palace, while Minister K J George gifted an elephant figurine.

#WATCH | Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar met Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi as the Congress MP was about to take off from Mysuru.

(Video: Office of DK Shivakumar) pic.twitter.com/DIX0vkX1Bh

— ANI (@ANI) January 13, 2026

The speculated power tussle within the Karnataka Congress began as the state government completed 2.5 years in power. Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, Deputy CM DK Shivakumar and Home Minister G Parameshwara are in the fray.

On Sunday, DK Shivakumar expressed confidence that the party high command would decide on his future amid the ongoing leadership tussle in the state. “I don’t come from a political family, yet I have grown to this level. I am confident that the party would take a decision on me going forward,” he said while speaking at the programme ‘Udyami Vokkaliga Expo 2026.

Shivakumar hails from the Vokkaliga community, while Parameshwara is a prominent Dalit leader in the party. The Deputy CM criticised Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy, alleging that people in his own community were criticising him.

“You all prayed for me when I was jailed. I am aware that you are all praying for me and wishing me well. I believe that prayers will never go to waste, even if efforts do. People in our community are criticising me. They are stabbing from the front, and they are stabbing from the back. My conscience knows how honest I was when Kumaraswamy was the CM. Now, Kumaraswamy is accusing me of backstabbing him. I don’t need any certificates, my conscience knows,” he said.

“God doesn’t give boon or curse, he only gives opportunities. We should make use of the opportunities when we get them. Trust is the most important factor in life; always maintain it in your transactions and business. I have come here to express my solidarity with you. You are all hard-working people,” he told the entrepreneurs from the Vokkaliga community on Sunday. (ANI)