Siddaramaiah, DK Shivakumar meets over idli-sambar breakfast as Karnataka power struggle heats up

BENGALURU: Amid an escalating power tussle over the Chief Minister’s chair, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah met his Deputy DK Shivakumar at his residence for a high-stakes breakfast meeting on Saturday, where the two leaders attempted to cool tempers over plates of traditional idli and sambar.

CM Siddaramaiah had invited Shivakumar earlier in order to resolve the ongoing crisis within the party. Legal adviser to the CM and Virajpet MLA A S Ponnanna was also present in the meeting.

Amid the tussle, Siddaramaiah said there is no change in his stance. “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…” Siddaramaiah said.

The Congress is likely to discuss the crisis with the central leaders after the party’s strategy group meeting ahead of the winter session of Parliament on November 30.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Friday reiterated that the Congress high command will take any decision regarding the leadership. Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Shivakumar responded to questions about his supporters wanting to see him as the next CM.

“The party workers may be eager, but I am in no hurry. The party will take all the decisions”, Shivakumar told reporters. He did not rule out a visit to the national capital, though he clarified that his trip will be to raise several key issues with the Congress leadership ahead of the winter session of Parliament.

Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy slammed the Congress leaders, claiming that there is no development at all and nobody is interested in the Congress’ internal problems.

“Leadership change is their party problem. It is not connected with the people of Karnataka. People have given the Congress a five-year mandate to rule the state, but they have not given anything to the people… There is no development at all. The farmers are fighting for their problems, and even Dalits have been cheated by the Congress. Nobody is interested in the Congress’ internal problems…”, he said.

The high command, led by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, is expected to make a decision soon. Both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar have expressed willingness to abide by the party’s decision. The tussle, fueled by the “power-sharing agreement” of 2023 between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, has pushed each side’s loyalists to lobby for their leaders’ claims to the state’s top post. (ANI)