The tussle over the post of Chief Minister in Karnataka still continues to some extent. The competition may not be clearly visible now, but the competition is there. Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah met Deputy CM DK Shivakumar for the second time in a week today. After the breakfast meeting, Siddaramaiah even said that Shivakumar will become CM when the high command asks.
In fact, after meeting the Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister, the CM on Tuesday confirmed that Congress leaders are ‘united’ and will run the Congress government together. When asked about DK Shivakumar becoming the Chief Minister amid the ongoing tussle over the CM post, Siddaramaiah said, “When the high command says.”
Let us tell you that after idli-sambar and upma in the first meeting, DK Shivakumar hosted Siddaramaiah with hot plates of traditional Nati Chicken and Idli.
Addressing a joint press conference in Bengaluru, the Chief Minister said that a meeting is also planned with the party high command.
He said, “I and DK Shivakumar are united. We will run the government together in the future also. All our MLAs are united and together we will face the opposition. We are in the same party, follow the same ideology and work together. In the future also, we both will work together and bring the party back to power.”
“After breakfast, we discussed the assembly session. It was decided that we should call a meeting of MLAs on December 2. We will discuss farmers’ issues and other issues of the state,” he said.
The CM said, “We will accept the decision taken by both the high commands, especially Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Mallikarjun Kharge. If they (party high command) call us (Delhi), we will definitely go. Tomorrow I am meeting KC Venugopal at a function, where both of us have been invited.”
Downplaying speculations of a leadership struggle, Siddaramaiah said they have always been united. He said, “This unity is not a new thing today; we have always been united. Whatever decision Rahul Gandhi takes, we will act accordingly; that is what I have said.”
The Chief Minister raised the issue of MSP and reaffirmed the government’s support for maize and sugarcane farmers.
“I have come to his (Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar) residence for breakfast. DK Shivakumar had come to my house for breakfast and he had invited me to come to his house for breakfast or lunch. So I came today and we had breakfast. We discussed party-related matters,” he said.
“More importantly, the Assembly session is starting next Monday. They said they will bring a no-confidence motion. The BJP and JD(S) are planning to oppose any decision taken by us. Our government is pro-farmer. We also discussed issues related to maize and sugarcane. I have spoken to farmers and the government has fixed the price. I have also spoken to farmers, poultry farmers and fishermen,” he said.
D.K. Shivakumar also reaffirmed the government’s commitment towards development in the state.
“I feel proud to welcome the Honorable Chief Minister to my residence today. We are committed to the development of Karnataka and progress of our people,” Shivakumar wrote on Twitter.
Kunigal MLA Ranganath and Shivakumar’s brother and former MP D.K. Suresh was also present in the breakfast meeting.
Internal disagreements over the chief ministerial post, which is based on a 2023 “power-sharing agreement”, have prompted the two leaders to meet for the second time to avoid a full-scale crisis.
This meeting took place after high-level talks between the two leaders at Siddaramaiah’s Kaveri residence on the morning of November 29.