Even as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy D.K. Shivakumar sought to put up a show of unity during a media interaction after their breakfast meeting this morning, reports suggest that the discussion failed to bring any major breakthrough in resolving the power tussle in Karnataka.
The meeting, which was held as per the advice of the Congress high command, hit a “bit of an impasse” with both leaders sticking to their positions, the Hindustan Times reported.
As per the report, Siddaramaiah suggested that Shivakumar, who is currently the party’s state president, take up the chief minister post after the next assembly elections in 2028.
The tug of war between the two tall leaders of the Congress in Karnataka has intensified in recent weeks, especially after November 20, when the state government completed two and a half years in office.
There were reports that when the Congress high command chose Siddaramaiah as the chief minister in 2023, the two leaders had reached an understanding, as per which the latter would be made the CM when the government reached the halfway mark.
Of late, the two leaders have been making veiled jibes at each other on social media, prompting the high command to intervene and direct both of them to call a meeting and discuss the issues.
After Saturday’s meeting, both the CM and the KPCC chief affirmed that there were no differences between them and that they would abide by any decision the high command would take.
"We have decided that we will follow whatever the high command says. There will be no confusion from tomorrow. There is still no confusion. Some media reporters have created the confusion," Siddaramaiah said.
According to reports, Shivakumar is now likely to travel to Delhi to meet party president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi.