Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday amid growing signs of a leadership tussle in the Karnataka Congress. They arrived in the national capital for meetings with the Congress high command.
Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, and Congress general secretary K. C. Venugopal at Indira Bhavan in Delhi.
Before leaving Karnataka Bhavan, Siddaramaiah did not directly respond to questions on whether he would complete his full term as Chief Minister, The Times of India reported.
Speaking to reporters earlier in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said, "I have been invited to Delhi for a meeting. I do not know the agenda. K.C. Venugopal informed me about the meeting and asked me to attend."
When asked about a possible leadership change in the state, the Karnataka Chief Minister responded, "Speculations are always there".
Congress dismisses leadership change speculation
While speculations are rife, Congress leaders publicly denied that the Delhi meeting was linked to any immediate change in Karnataka leadership. Congress leader Ramesh Babu said the discussions were mainly related to the upcoming Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council elections, as per TOI.
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He said, "Candidate selection for the Rajya Sabha elections and preparations for the Legislative Council polls are among the issues to be discussed with the party leadership."
Karnataka Congress in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala also rejected leadership change speculation. “Rajya Sabha elections have been notified, and the party is holding consultations. There should not be unnecessary speculation," Surjewala said.
Shivakumar reiterates confidence
Ahead of the meeting, Karnataka Dy CM D.K. Shivakumar expressed confidence about the Congress returning to power in Karnataka in 2028. "You will again see Shivakumar and the Congress government returning to power," he reportedly said.
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The Congress leadership has repeatedly intervened since 2023 to manage tensions between supporters of Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar. Supporters of the Deputy Chief Minister have often claimed that a rotational arrangement existed during the formation of the government, though the party leadership has never officially confirmed such an agreement.
