'Keeping a promise is power': Shivakumar’s veiled message to Siddaramaiah amid CM tussle?

Amid speculations about a leadership change in Karnataka, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar made a cryptic comment on Thursday, saying keeping promise is regarded as a big power move.

The statement is seen as a veiled message to the Congress high command as the KPCC president is locked in a power tussle with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

"There is a saying that word power is world power, which means that for us to keep our promise is one of the biggest powers in the world. Whether it is a judge, the President of India, me, or you, or someone at your home, this is the biggest power, and we have to respect it,” Shivakumar said while addressing an event in Bengaluru.

As the Congress government in Karnataka completed the halfway mark of its five-year tenure on November 20, a section of party leaders loyal to Shivakumar has demanded the implementation of the “power-sharing agreement” made in 2023.

There were reports that when the Congress high command chose Siddaramaiah as the chief minister, amid an intense power tussle between him and Shivakumar, the two leaders had reached an understanding, as per which the latter would be made the CM after two and a half years.

On Wednesday, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the issue will be resolved after discussions with senior leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.

"The high command—myself, Rahul ji and Sonia ji will together take a decision on the issue and resolve it," Kharge told PTI news agency.

Shivakumar, while talking to reporters on Wednesday, had claimed unity in the party and said there was confusion or existence of factions.

Asked about the alleged power-sharing agreement, he said he does not wish to speak about anything. "Whatever is there, party issues, we will discuss within four walls. I will not discuss any political issues in the media,” Shivakumar said.