Amid the ongoing leadership tussle in Karnataka, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy D.K. Shivakumar met for breakfast for the second time in a week on Tuesday.
Shivakumar, who is also the president of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee, hosted Siddaramaiah with steaming plates of traditional Nati chicken and Idlis at his residence at Sadashivanagar in Bengaluru.
Though it’s not immediately known what transpired at the meeting, Shivakumar said in a post on X that they reaffirmed their commitment to good governance and the continued development of the state under the Congress vision.
Shivakumar’s brother D.K. Suresh and Kunigal MLA Ranganath were also present at the meeting, which followed a similar interaction on November 29 at the chief minister’s Cauvery residence.
Though both leaders had sought to put up a show of unity after last week's meeting, reports claimed that the discussion failed to make any major breakthrough as both sides stuck to their stand.
Meanwhile, media reports suggested that the Congress high command is exploring all options to find an early solution to the issue, which has plunged the party into a deep crisis in Karnataka.
Party's national president Mallikarjun Kharge has told the two warring leaders to honour the 'deal' made in 2023 when the high command chose Siddaramaiah as the chief minister, NDTV reported, quoting sources.
As per the purported deal, Shivakumar would be made the CM when the government reached the halfway mark. The party leadership, however, has never publicly acknowledged such an arrangement as being in existence.
Tuesday’s meeting also assumes significance as the party plans to send out a strong message of unity ahead of the Assembly's winter session, scheduled to be held from December 8 in Belagavi.