BENGALURU, 3 JAN

Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi recently hosted a dinner for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and several cabinet colleagues in Bengaluru, prompting speculation about the future of the Congress State President. Approximately 18 to 20 ministers and MLAs were in attendance on Thursday night as discussions were believed to have revolved around the party's leadership dynamics.

The dinner took place in the absence of Deputy Chief Minister DK Shiva Kumar, who is currently abroad, igniting rumours concerning potential changes in the leadership. Shiva Kumar has served as the Congress state president since March 2020, a period marked by significant successes for the party, including a victory in the recent state assembly elections, where they secured 134 out of 224 seats.

Former Chief Minister and BJP MP Jagadish Shettar weighed in on the situation, claiming it reflects deepening infighting within the Congress party. He alleged that Shivakumar is attempting to unseat the chief minister amid ongoing controversies, including the MUDA scam, while Siddaramaiah reportedly seeks to diminish Shiva Kumar's influence by considering a leadership change at the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC).

However, State Social Welfare Minister HC Mahadevappa dismissed these conjectures, clarifying that the gathering was merely a social dinner and devoid of political discussion. "We just had our dinner. We did not discuss any politics," he asserted.

Under Shiva Kumar’s leadership, the Congress party has also seen an increase in its Lok Sabha representation from one seat in 2019 to nine in 2024, along with sweeping wins in recent assembly by-elections. Despite the current tensions, the party high command regards Shivakumar as a critical asset in its strategy.  -PTI