Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah held a breakfast meeting with Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar at the latter's Bengaluru residence on December 2. This was the second such meeting, part of efforts to resolve disputes over power sharing and leadership change. Both leaders agreed to abide by the Congress high command's decision.
Amid the tussle for the chief minister's post and power sharing after the first half of the five-year term of the Karnataka Congress government, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar held a breakfast meeting on December 2 at Shivakumar's residence in Sadashivanagar, Bengaluru. The meeting lasted about 45 minutes.
This was the second breakfast meeting between the two leaders in less than four days; the first occurred on November 29 at the chief minister's residence. The Congress high command had directed both to resolve differences ahead of the state legislature's winter session starting December 8 in Belagavi and the Parliament session that began on December 1.
After the meeting, both agreed to abide by the high command's decision on leadership change in Karnataka. Shivakumar and his brother, former MP D.K. Suresh, welcomed Siddaramaiah. Kunigal MLA H.D. Ranganath, a close relative of Shivakumar, also joined for breakfast. The menu featured idli, dosa, upma, naati chicken, and coffee.
Though largely seen as a courtesy call, the chief minister's visit is believed to position Shivakumar at the center stage of Karnataka politics. It signals Shivakumar gradually emerging as Siddaramaiah's successor, though aspirants like Home Minister G. Parameshwara also vie for the post. On December 1, Shivakumar described the meetings as a matter 'between brothers' and stressed no groupism within the Congress government. He told reporters they would meet often to discuss political developments and added there was no plan to visit Delhi as of then.
Congress sources indicated the high command expects to summon both leaders to Delhi after Parliament's winter session ends on December 19, by which time the state legislature session in Belagavi would have concluded. Discussions will cover leadership change, cabinet reshuffle, and appointment of a new chief for the Karnataka Congress unit.