Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is scheduled to visit his deputy D K Shivakumar’s residence on December 2, in an effort to demonstrate unity and a truce following months of power tussle within the ruling Congress in the state, official sources said on Monday.
This comes days after Shivakumar visited the CM’s residence for a similar breakfast meeting.
Following the initial meeting held as per the directive of the Congress high command, both leaders had publicly stated that “there won’t be any confusion”.
According to the details, the meeting between the two has been scheduled for 9.30 am, in the wake of a month-long political tussle and days of intense speculation over leadership dynamics within the party.
Both had met for a breakfast meeting on Saturday, too, at Siddaramaiah’s residence, after which the Congress leadership described the meeting as part of ongoing coordination between the two top leaders.
Addressing the media together, they had declared that they would abide by the directives of the party high command, seemingly putting an end to rumours of a change in the Chief Minister’s post, which had been linked to a rumoured agreement for Shivakumar’s elevation in November 2025.
After the earlier meeting, Siddaramaiah criticised the media for creating confusion between him and his deputy.
“Henceforth, all confusions will be sorted out,” the Chief Minister assured.
Shivakumar emphasised that the 2028 assembly election would be fought under the leadership of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi.
However, political observers and opposition leaders maintain that the truce is temporary and largely tactical.
BJP leader Prakash Sesharaghavachar said, “This is just a temporary truce. Once someone becomes overambitious in politics, you can silence him for the time being, but it will surge again. His loyal MLAs went to Delhi, and some seers too came in his support.”
“Now the Deputy Chief Minister cannot go back. That will hit his reputation. He is now in a do-or-die situation, which he himself invited,” he said.
JD(S) MLC TA Sharavana added that the discord has exposed the two leaders and their party to public scrutiny, but “now they are trying to cover up their bickering.”
“The people of the state will not accept this show of unity. The government is unable to fulfil the promises made to the people and has failed to carry out development works. Hence, the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister staged the drama,” the MLC said.
Meanwhile, Congress spokesperson M Lakshmana insisted that there were never any differences between the two leaders.
“The story of differences is the handiwork of the BJP and the JD(S) and a section of the media. The opposition created a misunderstanding between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar to weaken the government. This was an attempt to ensure that Congress does not come to power in 2028,” he said.
