Shivakumar, MLAs rush to Delhi amid power swap buzz

Ten Congress MLAs loyal to Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar flew to Delhi to intensify pressure on the party high command to honour the much-discussed power-sharing arrangement in Karnataka, sources said.

The fresh push coincides with the Siddaramaiah government marking exactly 2.5 years in office today—the halfway mark that has long been linked to speculation about a leadership change.

The MLAs, seen as Shivakumar confidants, arrived in the capital on Thursday afternoon and are seeking meetings with the top leadership. They are slated to meet Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge this evening and AICC general secretary KC Venugopal on Friday morning to formally press their demand that the “promise made 2.5 years ago” be fulfilled.

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Among those who travelled today are Dinesh Gooligowda, Ravi Ganiga and Gubbi Vasu. More leaders—Anekal Shivanna, Nelamangala Srinivas, Iqbal Hussain, Kunigal Ranganath, Shivaganga Basavaraju and Balakrishna—are expected to reach Delhi on Friday, with several additional MLAs likely to follow over the weekend.

KHARGE MEETS MLAs AFTER BRIEF SECURITY CONFUSION

Sources said Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had invited several Karnataka MLAs to his residence after they requested a meeting with him. However, since his security team had not been pre-informed about the gathering, there was brief confusion and a temporary hold-up at the gate. Kharge subsequently met all the MLAs and listened to their concerns, the sources added.

DK SHIVAKUMAR RESPONDS TO DELHI VISIT

Responding to reports of MLAs from his camp heading to Delhi, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said he had no knowledge of their plans. “I don’t know. I don’t have that much information. I haven’t asked anyone. I don’t know anything,” he told reporters.

He explained that he had remained indoors due to health reasons: “I’m not feeling well. That’s why I haven’t left the house.”

When asked about Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s statement that he would continue in the post, Shivakumar replied, “Very happy, who said no? No one has questioned who we are or whether he will be CM. The party has given us responsibility; we will work accordingly. We will all work together.”

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