Karnataka political crisis reaches Delhi! What DK Shivakumar said after meeting Kharge, will Siddaramaiah lose his position?
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar met with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge at his residence on Thursday. This meeting immediately fueled speculation about a leadership change in the state. Questions arose regarding the timing of the meeting. However, Shivakumar told reporters immediately afterward that the two had not discussed the issue. Speaking to reporters, Shivakumar clarified that the issue of the chief ministership was not discussed.
According to him, the conversation was entirely focused on the central government's move to change the name of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) and the Congress Working Committee meeting scheduled for Saturday.
The Deputy Chief Minister said there was no reason to raise any other issue. "Neither did I, nor will I. Nothing of that sort exists at present. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and I have both made it clear that we will abide by the high command's decision, and we are fully committed to it."
I have served the party in every possible role: Shivakumar
Shivakumar presented himself not as a contender for any position but as a lifelong Congress worker. He spoke of tying party flags, pasting posters, and doing cleaning work, emphasizing that he has served the party in every possible role.
When asked if decades of such loyalty deserved a reward, he declined to answer. Asked whether Delhi would now intervene to resolve the matter, Shivakumar said he had no plans to go to the capital and would only go if the party summoned him, but so far, no such summons had been issued.
The power struggle for the Chief Minister's chair in the Karnataka Congress has been well-known for the past few months. Supporters of Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar have been clashing frequently. However, after the Congress high command's intervention, both leaders softened their stance and attempted to send a message of unity by having breakfast at each other's homes.
Prakash Kumar Pandey