Bengaluru, 30 Nov

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar reaffirmed on Sunday that all is well within the State Congress ranks and there is no difference of opinion between him and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. However, he added that he was aware of his "limits".

"There is no difference between me and the CM,” Shivakumar told press. “Being the (State) party President, I know my limits. Nowhere have I made any comments or expressed a difference of opinion with the CM. We are all working together. There are a lot of aspirations of the people of Karnataka, and we are committed to working for them. Our aim is 2028 and 2029. We want to call an all-party meeting on various issues.”

“I never took a single MLA whenever I went to Delhi. I could have taken at least 10 to 12 MLAs. That does not serve any purpose," Shivakumar added. He reiterated that all 140 MLAs in the State were his and that he didn’t believe in factionalism.

Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar had a breakfast meeting on Saturday and presented a show of unity, after an escalating war of words added to speculations about a possible change of Chief Ministers. 

The High Command, led by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, is expected to make a decision soon. Both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar have said they will abide by High Command’s decision.

Shivakumar on Sunday also dismissed JD(S) leader and former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy's that the power tussle had taken a communal colour.

"I never asked for it (Vokkaliga pontiffs’ support). I love all the castes. Many seers had spoken in my favour. Did I ask them to speak on my behalf? No. It is their love and trust in me. Should I call that wrong?" he said. AHINDA groups (Dalit, minorities and backward classes) had thrown their weight behind Siddaramaiah.

He said that he tried to save the Congress and JD(S) coalition government in 2018. “This is something which I and God know."

"Let him (Kumaraswamy) say whatever he wants, but I will not get hurt. I never backstab. I fight from the front,” he added.

On the BJP's criticism over the leadership row, he remarked, "The BJP can say anything for survival. Should we take them seriously?"