In a bid to defuse the rising political friction within the Karnataka Congress, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar met for a conciliatory breakfast meeting on Saturday. The high-command-driven outreach comes amid renewed chatter over leadership transition and internal rifts within the party.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stressed that the Congress remains united and focused on long-term goals. “Our agenda is the 2028 elections. Local body elections are important. We discussed bringing back Congress in 2028. We will go together. There are no differences between us, and there will be no differences in the future,” he asserted, dismissing speculation of internal strife.
The Chief Minister also criticized the opposition for attempting to create instability. “They talk about a no-confidence motion, but they don’t have the numbers. We are 140. This is a futile exercise, and we will confront their claims,” he said, hitting out at the BJP and JD(S).
Addressing reports of Congress MLAs travelling to Delhi, Siddaramaiah clarified that personal political aspirations should not be misread. “Some MLAs may want to become ministers, but that does not mean they are against the leadership. Whatever the high command says, we will go by that,” he added.
Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar echoed the same sentiment of unity, reaffirming that both leaders are committed to working as one team. “With the support of all of you, we have brought the Congress government and we are working as per our promise. The people of the state are giving their full support… whatever the high command says, we will follow that, and there is no group,” he said.
He further added, “Whatever the CM said, I am with the CM. We are working together.”
Background: A Lingering Power-Shift Debate
Tensions between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar have been simmering since the 2023 Assembly elections, when Congress reportedly considered a rotational Chief Minister formula. With Siddaramaiah crossing the halfway point of his term, voices from Shivakumar’s camp have reignited demands for him to take over for the remaining duration.
Siddaramaiah, however, has consistently rejected the idea of power-sharing. His son, Yathindra Siddaramaiah, also reiterated that only the party’s high command can decide leadership matters and that no such discussions have taken place.
On Friday, the Chief Minister firmly stated: “There is no internal fight. There is no confusion. The media is creating this perception. The high command has not said anything about a leadership change.”
Outlook
The breakfast meeting, encouraged by the Congress leadership, appears to be a strategic move to publicly demonstrate unity ahead of crucial electoral cycles. Whether this truce translates into long-term stability within the Karnataka Congress, however, remains to be seen.
