Karnataka’s Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar held a breakfast meeting at Shivakumar’s residence on Tuesday, an event seen as an effort to quell speculation about a rift over the Chief Ministerial role. Both leaders have consistently pledged allegiance to the Congress high command’s final decision, yet whispers of internal discord have continued to fuel political discourse.
Upon Siddaramaiah’s arrival, he was received by Deputy CM Shivakumar and his brother, former MP D.K. Suresh. Addressing the press after their private discussions, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah asserted a united front: “There are no differences. D.K. Shivakumar and I are united. We are running the government. In the future also, we will run the government unitedly.” This public declaration aims to solidify party cohesion.
Home Minister G. Parameshwara commented on the situation, noting that it’s natural for leaders to have aspirations and that the current meetings are a positive sign. He emphasized the importance of a “peaceful settlement” and reiterated that the current discussions are a continuation of the high command’s guidance. Parameshwara described the reciprocal nature of the meetings between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar as a healthy development for the party.
This encounter follows a similar breakfast meeting held on November 29th at Siddaramaiah’s residence. That earlier meeting was characterized by Shivakumar as a productive discussion on Karnataka’s development priorities. However, it was also widely interpreted as a strategic move to manage the fallout from the ongoing internal power dynamics within the state Congress unit, particularly concerning the distribution of power in the government.