Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Dec 2: After two rounds of “breakfast meetings” between the incumbent chief minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar, a decision on the timings of the leadership change has been entirely left on the Congress high command as the two leaders could not come to any conclusion except to agree that both should wait patiently for Delhi’s nod.
Sources close to the party said while Mr Siddaramaiah wanted that he be allowed to complete the current term and Mr Shivakumar take over the roll after the next elections, his deputy reportedly was not amused over the suggestion, though he publicly maintained that he was in no hurry, apparently because no one can be sure that the Congress would be able to retain power in the state after the 2028 elections.
Mr Siddaramaiah on Tuesday met his deputy for a ‘power breakfast’ meeting at the latter’s residence, which was in response to Saturday’s breakfast meeting at the CM’s residence. The two Congress leaders – squabbling over the chief minister’s post since the 2023 election – sat down breakfast with steaming idlis, nati koli fry, vada, and pongal and discussed their tug-of-war. But the outcome remains uncertain, particularly since Siddaramaiah pointed out the two spoke about the Karnataka Assembly session next week.
But – in perhaps the first clear admission that his time as Chief Minister may be drawing to an end – Siddaramaiah also indicated he was prepared to stand down, though only if told to by the Congress’ top leaders. “Both of us will accept the decision taken by the party, especially Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Mallikarjun Kharge.”
Sources said Mr Shivakumar made a genuine attempt to show respect to Siddaramaiah. His younger brother, DK Suresh, who last month spoke out against the Chief Minister, was seen bending down to touch his feet, a traditional show of respect.
Addressing the media for the second time in four days, the leaders put up a united front amid speculation of a leadership change in Karnataka. Saturday’s breakfast at Siddaramaiah’s official residence was organised by the Congress high command to ease tensions between the two leaders.
On Tuesday, Siddaramaiah said both he and Shivakumar would be willing to go to New Delhi if called by the Congress high command. When asked about Shivakumar assuming the CM post, he said: “When the high command says.” Earlier, sources said Siddaramaiah is learnt to have suggested Shivakumar take over as chief minister only after the next election in 2028.
Sources also said the two will now likely be summoned to Delhi, to meet those leaders on December 8. The plan, sources explained, is for the two to fly out from Belagavi – where the Karnataka Assembly is located – after the House is adjourned.
On paper they will be accompanied by Congress MPs from the state and it will be a trip to flag problems faced by Karnataka farmers and the management of the state’s water resources. But backchannel talks are also on the agenda, sources said. Before that senior Congress leader KC Venugopal and they are expected to hold curtain-raiser talks in Mangaluru.
A face-to-face with Rahul Gandhi and Kharge, it is understood, will be crucial in setting out a transition plan and break a deadlock that has rumbled on for nearly three years, threatening the stability of one of only three states the Congress controls on its own. The caveat, though, as it appears with most party matters, is that ‘final decision’ would be taken by Rahul Gandhi, who normally disfavoured a mid-term change.
The breakfast at DKS’ home was the second meeting in three days as the Congress tries to broker peace – again – long enough to focus on the 2028 election. And the party released another obligatory ‘all is well’ photo to signify unity. “Hosted the Chief Minister for breakfast at my residence today as we reaffirm our commitment to good governance and the continued development of our state under the Congress vision,” DKS said on X, with a photo of the two sitting side-by-side.
“We are ‘one voice’ in the Congress… there is no difference in party, it is only a creation of the media,” he told reporters. On Saturday they met at the Chief Minister’s home. On the menu then was idli, upma, and kesari, and probably coffee too.
What was not, though, was an immediate end to their feud. Sources said the two spoke about a transition of power but could not agree on a date. DKS’ camp wants it done quickly, possibly as early as April 2026, while the Chief Minister’s side is understood to want to push it back as far as possible, even unto the end of the term.
At the centre of this row is a deal that was allegedly struck after the Congress’ surprise 2023 election win – that Siddaramaiah and DKS would share the five-year term, i.e., each would be chief minister for 2.5 years. That halfway mark passed last month with no sign the former is ready to hand over power. On Monday Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge seemed to (finally) put his foot down.
Sources said he called for that promise to be upheld, arguing “that word was given in my presence… and it should be honoured. Otherwise, I have no credibility in my own state.” This is the second time Mallikarjun Kharge has pushed the Congress to resolve this issue as quickly as possible; last week he called for a settlement before Parliament’s winter session.