At a joint press conference post a meeting over breakfast on Saturday at Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s residence, ‘Cauvery’, state deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar and the CM put up a united front, seeking to bring to end a raging leadership row involving them.
The two echoed their resolve to abide by the party high command’s decision, and asserted that there were no differences in the party circles despite “confusion” that was “created by the media”.
“I had a breakfast meeting with Shivakumar because some unwanted confusion was created. It was created by the media,” Siddaramaiah said at the press conference.
“We don’t have differences. Even today there are no differences, there won’t be any in future as well. I will ensure that from now on it does not exist,” he said.
Dismissing power tussle with the CM, Shivakumar said, “We don’t have factionalism”, and that they will “go together, take everyone along and abide by the party high command”.
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Shivakumar, who is also the Congress state president, said that he discussed the strategy to tackle opposition parties in the 2028 assembly polls, and also ways to deal with the no-confidence motion, should the BJP move it in the upcoming winter session of Karnataka legislative in Belagavi.
He also made it clear that the party would fight the 2028 assembly polls under the leadership of AICC president, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Congress MP, Rahul Gandhi.
Crediting people of the state for supporting the Congress party and bringing it to power, Shivakumar said the party owed it to them to live up to their expectations, especially during a “very difficult stage in the country” for the party.
“We still have the confidence that Karnataka will play a major role (in its revival). And we will repeat in 2028,” the 2023 poll victory, he added.
The breakfast meet was convened by the CM at the behest of the Congress high command to end the logjam over the deputy CM’s claim to the post of the chief minister after two-and-a-half years of their government being in power.
The opposition BJP had warned of moving a no-confidence motion should the power tussle between the CM and his deputy continue.
Earlier, in a social media post after the breakfast meet, Shivakumar said the two leaders had a productive discussion.
“Met Hon’ble CM Shri @siddaramaiah avaru at Cauvery Residence this morning for a breakfast meeting. A productive discussion on Karnataka’s priorities and the road ahead,” he wrote.
While Siddaramaiah has been asserting that he has got a mandate to remain as the chief minister for a full five-year term, Shivakumar has indicated that he was promised that he will be elevated after two-and-half years on a rotational basis.
The issue of change of leadership had been going on for the past two months but intensified after November 20 when the Congress government completed 2.5 years.