‘Will discuss party issues within four walls, not before media’: DK Shivakumar on CM speculation

BENGALURU: Amid speculation over leadership change in Karnataka, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Wednesday said that all party-related issues will be discussed internally and not before the media.

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Shivakumar said, “I don’t want to speak about anything in the media. We will discuss the party’s issues in the four walls, not in the media. There is no other discussion, only to keep the party flag high, to keep this Constitution high and protect the Constitution…”

#WATCH | Bengaluru: On Karnataka political turmoil and speculations around CM post, Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar says, “There is no confusion. No one should demand anything. There are no groups. There is only one group- the Congress group. Our group is of 140 MLAs.” pic.twitter.com/x3PrLv3AqN

— ANI (@ANI) November 26, 2025

He also dismissed talk of internal differences in the Congress, saying there was “no confusion” in the party and that all 140 MLAs belonged to “one group” with no separate factions or demands. “There is no confusion. No one should demand anything. There are no groups. There is only one group — the Congress group. Our group is of 140 MLAs”, Shivakumar said.

#WATCH | Bengaluru, Karnataka: Deputy CM DK Shivakumar met Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge in Bengaluru. The party chief was scheduled to leave for Delhi when the Deputy CM met him. After the meeting, the two left for the airport in the same car. pic.twitter.com/f73YXMOAID

— ANI (@ANI) November 25, 2025

When asked if he would be visiting Delhi, Shivakumar said he will seek time if needed, as he wants to finalise candidates for four MLC seats. “… I will seek time if anything is there because I want to finalise the candidates for the four MLC seats. I wanted to reorganise the KPCC trust and our properties, I want to discuss it with senior leaders of the party”, he said. On being asked about a group of Congress MLAs demanding him to become the Chief Minister, Shivakumar said, “I don’t have any group here”.

Earlier in the day, minister Priyank Kharge said that every member of the Congress party is clear that whatever the high command decides, the leaders would follow it. Priyank Kharge said, “Very clearly, the CM, DCM and every member of the Congress party have been very, very clear saying that whatever the high command decides. When the top leadership is speaking in the same voice, in the same tone, then where is there a difference?” (ANI)