Karnataka Leaders Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar Meet Amid Tensions

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy, DK Shivakumar, convened for a breakfast meeting on Saturday morning, aimed at quelling speculation surrounding a potential change in leadership. Despite the cordial atmosphere during a subsequent press conference, sources indicated that the discussions encountered significant challenges.

The meeting took place at Siddaramaiah’s official residence, Kaveri, where both leaders maintained their respective positions during the private discussions, according to insider information reported by the Hindustan Times. Siddaramaiah reportedly urged Shivakumar to defer any leadership transition until after the next state elections in 2028.

The underlying tensions stem from an unconfirmed understanding, often referenced but never officially acknowledged by the Indian National Congress, suggesting Shivakumar would assume the role of Chief Minister once Siddaramaiah had served half of his term. With the government reaching the 2.5-year milestone on November 20, speculation regarding a leadership shift has intensified. Siddaramaiah has consistently asserted that he possesses a full five-year mandate, while Shivakumar has occasionally hinted that he expects the party to honour commitments made during the 2023 elections.

The breakfast meeting was prompted by the intervention of the party leadership, which directed the two officials to engage in dialogue to resolve their differences.

At the press conference that followed, both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar appeared together, projecting a united front and asserting that no internal discord existed. Siddaramaiah stated, "I had a breakfast meeting with Shivakumar because some unwanted confusion was created. It was created by the media... We don't have differences. Even today there are no differences; there won't be any in future as well. I will ensure that from now on it does not exist."

He further assured that both leaders had agreed to adhere to the party's directives and would keep the leadership informed of any agreements reached: "From tomorrow, there will be no confusion. Even now, none exists."

Shivakumar echoed these sentiments, underlining the importance of unity within the Congress party: "We don't have factionalism... We will go together, take everyone along and abide by the party high command." Following the meeting, he described the discussions as "productive" and indicated that they centred on "Karnataka’s priorities and the road ahead."

However, despite the public display of harmony, party insiders revealed that the central issue concerning the potential implementation of a rotational Chief Minister arrangement remains unresolved. While the breakfast meeting helped to lower the political temperature, it did not provide a definitive answer to the leadership dilemma that has been brewing for nearly two months.

The Bharatiya Janata Party, closely monitoring the situation, has warned that it may introduce a no-confidence motion if the Congress party's internal disputes persist. In response to these developments, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stated that the party is gearing up to confront both the BJP and the Janata Dal (Secular) in the assembly elections.