Amid a raging tussle over who would be the next chief minister of Karnataka, Congress leaders Siddaramaiah and D.K. Shivakumar shared a stage together after a long time in Bengaluru. The heads of the ruling Congress government came together to celebrate the golden jubilee of the Integrated Child Development Scheme.
"Today, I participated alongside Chief Minister Shri Siddaramaiah in the Golden Jubilee programme of the Integrated Child Development Scheme, organized by the Department of Women and Child Development as well as Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities and Senior Citizens, held at the Bangalore Palace Grounds," Shivakumar tweeted after the event.
"Today marks the golden jubilee celebration of the establishment of anganwadi centres, one of the many people-centric programmes introduced by Indira Gandhi, the greatest strength of this country," he added.
While the Shivakumar camp has been making frequent trips to the national capital to lobby the Congress high command, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has maintained he would serve as the head of the government for the full five-year term. Reportedly, after Congress won the 2023 assembly elections, the high command reportedly worked out a power-sharing formula between the stalwarts of Karnataka Congress, with each leader serving as chief minister for 2.5 years.
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Though he did not spell out the details, Congress leader Shivakumar recently revealed there indeed was a "secret deal". Talking to presspersons after the event, Shivakumar said he would visit Delhi if the high command called him and act as per the high command's guidance.
"I will definitely go to Delhi. It is our temple. Congress has a long history, and Delhi will always guide us. When they call me, party leaders and CM, we will go there," the Karnataka Congress chief said. "I don't want anything; my party will make the decision," he added.