Bengaluru, 28 Nov

In the midst of an alleged power tussle with Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, his deputy DK Shivakumar on Friday said he "does not want anything and is not in a hurry."

The KPCC President replied that he would go to New Delhi to meet the party High Command if called, saying "Delhi is our temple…. Without Delhi, nothing can happen.”

"I don't want anything. I am not in a hurry. My party will take a decision," he told press on the sidelines of a function marking the golden jubilee of the Anganwadi programme.

Notably, both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar shared the stage during the event.

He said he may travel to the national capital in view of the Parliament's winter session starting 1 December. He added that his visit to Delhi would be to secure the welfare for farmers. 

"I have a lot of work there. The parliament session is approaching. I have to meet all Karnataka MPs because they need to take up some of our projects," he said.

Shivakumar noted that the Supreme Court had given justice to Karnataka in the Mekedatu balancing reservoir issue, and he plans to discuss the matter with the state's MPs.

Political circles are abuzz with reports that the Congress High Command has summoned the CM and his Deputy to resolve the leadership tussle that has gained steam in the wake of the party government completing its half way mark recently.

He added that both he and Siddaramaiah are convening an all-party meeting to discuss a wide range of issues, including Mekedatu and the maize price crash.

Shivakumar also sought to distance himself from caste politics, saying he belongs to the Congress community and has love for all communities in the State.

Shivakumar’s comments come amid a heightened war of words between him and Siddaramaiah.

Siddaramaiah calls DKS for brekky to resolve power tussle

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said he invited his deputy DK Shivakumar for a meeting over breakfast on 29 November to discuss the heightened leadership row.

Speaking to press in the City, Siddaramaiah said, “The party High Command had called me and him and asked us to have a meeting. Hence, I have invited him for breakfast tomorrow. We will discuss when he comes,” Siddaramaiah said.

“There is no change in my stand and I have said I will listen to whatever the High Command says. Both of us have said that we will obey whatever the party High Command says,” he added.

Earlier, Shivakumar met with several Congress MLA’s

“Today, KY Nanjegowda, the MLA from Malluru, Kotturu Manjunath, the MLA from Kolar, Adi Narayana, the Congress leader from Mulbagal, Dr Ranganath, the MLA from Kunigal, and Prof MV Rajeev Gowda visited me and held discussions,” he said on X.

Later, addressing questions about Vokkaliga seers being upset with recent political developments, Shivakumar said, “I don’t want any community angle. My community is the Congress community. Of course, I may belong to one community, and they (Vokkaligas) may like me. That is different… My love is for all sections of society—backward classes, scheduled castes, minorities, and everyone. Even Vokkaligas are backward class people.”

Meanwhile, former chief minister and BJP leader Basavaraj Bommai said that the Opposition part may consider moving a no-confidence motion.

The Haveri BJP MP leader also predicted that a “dark horse” may enter the race.

“There is information that a new formula is being prepared by keeping both of them aside. There is a possibility of a dark horse entering the race,” Bommai told reporters here in Haveri. “A horse that is not visible now may appear. The horse that is seen in the photograph will not run. Anything can happen in the State.”

Other leaders in the fray for the CM’s position are PwD Minister Satish Jarkiholi and Home Minister G Parameshwara.  —Agencies