‘Both will go to Delhi at appropriate time,’ says Shivakumar amid leadership tussle with Siddaramaiah

Amid the power tussle in Karnataka, he state’s Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has said that the Congress high command has spoken to him and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and that they both will be called to Delhi at an appropriate time.

Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Shivakumar said that the high command has told “something to both of us” and they will go to Delhi when called.

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His remarks comes amid a purported leadership tussle between Siddaramaiah and him. At the centre of this tussle is a perceived power-sharing formula reached between the two leaders in 2023 after the Congress registered a landslide victory in the Karnataka Assembly elections.

Neither Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah, nor the Congress party, made any such agreement official. But with Siddaramaiah completing his 2.5 years in the office, the Shivakumar camp is reportedly putting pressure on Siddaramaiah and the High Command to adhere to that understanding.

Earlier on Friday, Siddaramaiah reiterated that he will complete his full five-year term as chief minister.

“I am confident that the high command will allow me to complete five years’ term,” he said in the state Assembly when BJP leaders raised this issue. “I feel that the high command is on my side, but I will abide by the high command’s decision,” he added.

Earlier last month, both leaders indulged in an ugly war of words, taking indirect digs at each other, prompting the Congress central leadership to intervene.

After the intervention of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Siddaramaiah held a breakfast meeting with Shivakumar at his residence in a bid to project unity.