Belagavi, 12 Dec

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Friday dismissed reports that his recent dinner engagements with Congress legislators were politically motivated, insisting the gatherings were purely personal. 

Addressing reporters in Belagavi, he said he frequently accepts informal invitations from long-time associates out of courtesy, not political calculation. “Friends from the region affectionately call me for lunch or dinner. How can I say no? It was not any dinner meet,” he said, clarifying that a meal with MLAs on the city’s outskirts was simply at the home of acquaintances who had long invited him.

Shivakumar’s clarification came amid speculation after over 30 Congress legislators, including ministers and two expelled BJP MLAs, reportedly attended a dinner on Thursday night. The meeting followed a separate dinner hosted a day earlier for CM Siddaramaiah and his close aides, fuelling talk of renewed tensions over a supposed power-sharing arrangement between the two leaders.

Dismissing such speculation, Shivakumar said he would not “forget his Congress family” and reiterated there was no political agenda. 

Shivakumar was also set to fly to New Delhi, which he said was for the ‘vote chori’ campaign. Siddaramaiah said he hadn’t been invited.

Meanwhile, Congress MLA Iqbal Hussain said that DK Shivakumar will become the chief minister after the legislature’s winter session.

MLA Iqbal Hussein, who represents Ramanagara, was among the ministers and legislators who met for dinner along with Shivakumar late last night.

"All MLAs have come for the session. It is a rare opportunity for us to meet. We had dinner. Can dining together be called a show of strength?" Hussain told reporters here on Friday when asked about the dinner meeting.

On whether Shivakumar gave any good news, he said, "I'm giving the good news. He will become the CM after the session."

Regarding his statements that Shivakumar will become the CM if it is written in his fate, Hussain said, "Everything will happen if God has written it in one's fate. We are confident that Shivakumar has a chance, considering his struggles for the party. We told it to the high command and they will decide."