Karnataka power tussle: Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar downplay rift, say High Command will take final call

Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Saturday said they had a “productive” breakfast meeting amid the ongoing leadership tussle in the state Congress. Shivakumar told reporters that both leaders would abide by the party high command's decision.

“We don’t have factions. We will go together, take everyone along, and follow the directions of the party high command. Today we discussed strategies for the 2028 elections and ways to counter the opposition. We will fight the 2028 Assembly election under the leadership of AICC president Rahul Gandhi,” Shivakumar said.

CM Siddaramaiah also described the discussion with his deputy as positive, reported PTI.

“Unity will continue. We are together — myself and DCM Shivakumar are united and there are no differences,” he said in Bengaluru.

The breakfast meeting was held at the behest of the Congress high command to iron out differences amid speculation over leadership change as the government completed half its term.

“Met Hon’ble CM Shri @siddaramaiah avaru at Cauvery Residence this morning for a breakfast meeting. A productive discussion on Karnataka’s priorities and the road ahead," Shivakumar wrote on X.

Sources indicated that the CM and DCM may jointly address the media in Bengaluru shortly.

“There is no change in my stand. I have said I will listen to whatever the high command says. Both of us have reiterated that we will obey the party high command,” Siddaramaiah added.

The row in Karnataka Congress
A fierce contest had broken out between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar for the chief minister’s post after the Congress won the May 2023 Assembly elections. The party eventually struck a compromise, making Siddaramaiah the CM and Shivakumar his deputy.

Reports had suggested a “rotational chief ministership” formula under which Shivakumar would take over after 2.5 years, though the party never officially confirmed this. The Congress government completed half its five-year term on November 20.

Siddaramaiah has repeatedly dismissed talk of rotation, asserting he would remain chief minister for the full five years.

(With agency inputs)