Karnataka Leadership Row: CM Siddaramaiah and Shiva Kumar Set For Another Breakfast Meeting

Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is going to visit Shivakumar's house on December 2. It is being said that this meeting is being held by both the leaders to show “solidarity” so that the long-running leadership tussle can be calmed down. There was no progress in their breakfast meeting held last week, so this meeting has been kept as a follow-up.

Is this meeting taking place on the instructions of the Congress high command?

According to the information, the Congress leadership sitting in Delhi has asked both the leaders to continue the talks and form a common opinion and send it to the high command. This initiative has been taken to calm the tension that has been going on between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar's close ones for the last several months.

Is Shivkumar just calling this entire controversy as 'brothers' talk'?

Talking to reporters, Shivkumar said that this entire matter is a personal conversation between him and the Chief Minister, which he is handling like brotherhood. He again reiterated that there is no factionalism of any kind in the government or the party. He also jokingly said that “netty chicken” would be served for breakfast, while his schedule to visit Delhi was not finalized yet.

Did speculation about a change of leadership increase because Siddaramaiah completed half his term?

The discussion again increased in the state about whether the Chief Minister's chair is now ready for change. Shivakumar's supporters have been continuously saying that the high command had given 'informal assurance' of transfer of power in the middle of the government's term. However, Shivkumar has publicly distanced himself from any such claim and said that the entire state and the two leaders are united.

Does Siddaramaiah agree on leadership change?

The Chief Minister has clearly stated that he has not accepted any kind of shared-tenure arrangement. He says that he will serve the full term of five years. After the November 29 meeting, he said their conversation was about preparations for the 2028 elections, and both leaders were focusing on the upcoming local body elections and the return of the Congress.

Will Shivkumar visit Delhi soon and meet central leaders?

He told that he has sought time from two Union Ministers and will go to Delhi as soon as he gets the appointment. His effort is to complete this journey before the winter session starting from December 8.

Is the Delhi High Command thinking of some big steps to calm this matter?

A senior Congress leader said that the party is considering several options. These include cabinet reshuffle to organizational changes, so that the government remains stable and discontent subsides. On the other hand, Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said that the differences were minor and have been resolved. He claimed that there is no division of any kind in the party.

Is pressure from religious leaders and MLAs influencing the decision?

Rao said that the opinion of religious leaders is part of the democratic process, but the final decision will be taken by the high command. He also said that breakfast or lunch meetings have no special meaning, because all discussions always take place in such an environment.