Factional statements, dinner meetings, and opposition attacks keep leadership issue alive in Karnataka Congress amid Belagavi Winter Assembly Session
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah (centre) and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar (left) in Belagavi on December 9. ANI
Bengaluru: The ‘leadership tussle’ amid the factional divide within the ruling Congress in Karnataka is continuing to take shape during the ongoing Winter Assembly Session in Belagavi district.
Despite two ‘breakfast diplomacy’ meetings—one held at the Chief Minister’s official residence, Krishna, in Bengaluru following a nudge from the Congress High Command to resolve the growing dispute between the Chief Minister and his deputy, D.K. Shivakumar, and another at Shivakumar’s residence in Sadashivanagar with the Chief Minister—the tussle between the two stalwart leaders appears to be intensifying, with calls growing louder during the Belagavi Winter Assembly Session.
The issue gained momentum following strong rumours that the Deputy Chief Minister had hosted a dinner meeting with over 50 Congress legislators in Belagavi a couple of days ago. The meeting was dubbed a display of Shivakumar’s strength within the party organisation. Reacting to this, the Dy CM and State Congress President, D.K. Shivakumar, said, “I am not displaying any strength, nor do I need to.”
When specifically asked about the dinner meeting organised on Thursday night in Belagavi, Shivakumar said, “I don’t need that. No one needs to come behind me, and no one should speak on my behalf. I, the Chief Minister, and all 140 MLAs belong to one group—the Congress group. Do not create room for any groupism,” he reiterated. “I did not organise any dinner meeting. Doddannanavar is a former Belagavi District Congress President and also my friend. They have a large family, and for the past 15 years they have been inviting us home for a meal. Can we forget our Congress family members? I, along with a few others, went there for dinner—that’s all. I went to their home to show respect. There is nothing more to it. Every day, some local people or people from my constituency lovingly bring food. Can I say no to them?” the DCM quipped.
On Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s son and MLC, Yathindra Siddaramaiah, repeatedly commenting on the CM’s position, Shivakumar said, “I don’t know about that. The Honourable Chief Minister will answer everything. I am travelling to Delhi on Saturday (December 13) to participate in the protest against voter fraud. Rahul Gandhi initiated the fight against voter fraud right here in Karnataka. In 2023, we identified voter theft through the Chilume scandal.”
Meanwhile, Congress leaders—especially those loyal to D.K. Shivakumar— have continued to comment on the leadership issue. Ramanagara Congress MLA Iqbal Hussain, a staunch supporter of the Deputy Chief Minister, said on Friday that the hard work put in by Shivakumar for the party would soon yield results. Speaking to the media in Belagavi, Hussain said this would happen after the Assembly session concludes. His remarks have gained significance amid rumours of a possible leadership change in the ruling Congress government after the winter session.
Responding to claims from the Siddaramaiah camp that Shivakumar does not enjoy sufficient support among MLAs, Hussain said numbers do not matter and that only the High Command’s directive is important. “Around 50 to 60 Congress MLAs gathered for a dinner. If Shivakumar invites, all 224 MLAs will attend. Everyone is close to him and all are his friends. The High Command’s decision must be accepted by all,” he added.
Another MLA, Ramesh Bandi Siddegowda from the Srirangapattana constituency in Mandya district, said that friends from Belagavi had invited them for dinner and they merely attended. He said it is the High Command that will decide the leadership issue and that there is no number game involved, questioning whether attending a dinner should be seen as something wrong.
Expelled BJP MLA from Yeshwanthpur constituency S.T. Somashekar, who is currently aligned with the Congress and has publicly declared Shivakumar as his “godfather,” remarked, “Why shouldn’t D.K. Shivakumar become the Chief Minister? Has he not built the party? Has he not worked hard? He is only asking for what he deserves. The Congress High Command will take a decision after the session ends.”
