New Delhi: Amid speculation over a leadership change in the Congress-led Karnataka government, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Thursday said “patience will also pay”.
The Siddaramaiah government is set to complete 1,000 days in office on Friday.
Shivakumar denied that there was any power tussle between him and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
He met senior Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in Delhi on Thursday, sparking fresh speculation about the ongoing power shift buzz in the southern state.
Congress sources described the meeting as “positive,” with leaders believed to have discussed the possibility of a power shift. However, details of the talks remain undisclosed.
Speculation over a possible change in Karnataka’s Chief Minister gathered momentum after the Congress government crossed the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20, 2025. The buzz stems from a reported power-sharing arrangement between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar at the time of the government’s formation in 2023.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Shivakumar downplayed suggestions of internal discord. “There is no tussle. All discussions have been held between us,” he said.
On recent remarks by the Chief Minister’s son, Yathindra Siddaramaiah, asserting that his father would complete a full term. Shivakumar responded, “Yathindra is our high command; we have to accept that.”
Emphasising party unity, he said, “The party has a vision and a goal. The party’s success is more important. Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi will take a call when they feel it is time.”
Striking a philosophical note, Shivakumar added, “Patience will also pay a lot of measures. More age, more colour.”
Earlier this week, the Deputy Chief Minister urged Congress leaers to strictly adhere to Kharge’s directive to refrain from making public statements on the leadership tussle, warning that such comments, either in his favour or against him, would only create confusion and damage the party’s image.
