Bengaluru/Mysuru, 1 Dec

In a renewed show of unity amid an ongoing leadership tussle, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is likely to visit Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar’s residence for breakfast on 2 December, days after the duo held a similar meeting to project solidarity.

Official sources on Monday confirmed the Siddaramaiah’s expected visit, though Siddaramaiah said he had not yet received a formal invitation. “He asked me on Saturday to come for breakfast on Tuesday. I have not received a call yet. If invited, I will go,” he told reporters. Shivakumar, when asked, said the matter was between him and the CM, adding that the two leaders were working “like brothers”.

The breakfast diplomacy follows Saturday’s meeting at Siddaramaiah’s residence, held at the insistence of the Congress high command to defuse rising tensions over the alleged leadership rotation pact between the two leaders. After the meeting, both asserted there would be “no confusion” going forward and that they would abide by the high command’s decision.

With the Belagavi legislature session beginning on 8 December, the latest outreach is widely seen as a signal that Siddaramaiah will continue as Chief Minister for the time being. Speculation of a change in leadership had intensified after the Congress government crossed the halfway mark of its five-year term on 20 November.

Shivakumar dismissed suggestions of groupism within the party, accusing the media of creating factions. “There are no groups, you are creating groups. I have 140 MLAs with me. When it comes to the party, we will take everyone together,” he said.

In Mysuru, Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao urged the public and media not to politicise the breakfast meetings. “These are informal platforms where leaders discuss various matters. There are no internal differences; only outsiders are speaking about it,” he said. Praising the CM’s handling of the situation, he added, “Siddaramaiah has shown maturity; he will sort out all issues.”

On Mutt heads demanding that leaders from their communities be made CM, Gundu Rao said every citizen has the right to express an opinion, but the Congress high command will take the final decision in the interest of the party and the state.