Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister, D K Shivakuma, on Saturday reached Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s residence ‘Cauvery’ for a meeting over breakfast amid a leadership tussle brewing in the state’s politics.
The breakfast meeting was held after intervention by Congress party high command, which is said to have telephoned both leaders to resolve the logjam amicably.
Around 10 am on Saturday morning, Siddaramaiah welcomed Shivakumar, who is also the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president, and his legal advisor and Congress MLA, AS Ponnanna.
Photographed enjoying a meal of idlis, the Chief Minister’s office released photographs of the two after the 40-minute meeting to indicate that all was well in the state’s political circles.
While Siddaramaiah has insisted that he has got a mandate to remain as the chief minister for a full five-year term, he has also hinted at abiding by the high command. Shivakumar, on the other hand, has indicated that he was promised the CM’s post after two-and-half years, on a rotational basis.
Also Read: Siddaramaiah invites Shivakumar amid tussle over CM post
The issue of change of leadership had been going on for the past two months but intensified after November 20, when the Congress government completed two-and-half years.
After the two leaders exchanged jibes over social media on November 27, the Congress high command on Friday asked them to resolve the issue by talking it out.
However, on November 28, the chief minister had stated that there was no change in his stand. “I will listen to whatever high command says. He (Shivakumar) has also said that several times,” Siddaramaiah said.
Before leaving for the CM’s residence, Shivakumar declined to comment and said he would speak later.
Earlier on Friday night, loyalists of Shivakumar had met for a “dinner meeting” in the city, said sources.
Follow us
