In a dramatic development in the ongoing Karnataka leadership tussle, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has extended a breakfast invitation to his deputy DK Shivakumar for Saturday morning. The move comes after direct intervention from the Congress high command, which has stepped in to resolve the escalating political crisis.
High Command Intervention
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah confirmed on Friday that the Congress high command had spoken to both leaders and directed them to meet for discussions. "I've invited Shivakumar for breakfast at 9am. If he comes, I'll discuss the issue with him," Siddaramaiah stated, adding that he would obey the high command's directive.
A senior party functionary from Delhi revealed that both politicians have been asked to resolve the matter through mutual discussions. "If they don't, then the high command will intervene directly," the functionary warned, indicating the seriousness of the situation.
Shivakumar's Political Gambit
Meanwhile, DK Shivakumar continued his political maneuvering by invoking former Congress president Sonia Gandhi's decision to sacrifice the prime minister's position in 2004. While praising Sonia Gandhi's leadership, Shivakumar's comments sparked intense speculation within political circles about his true intentions.
Political observers are divided on whether Shivakumar was subtly suggesting that Siddaramaiah should make way for him or projecting himself as someone willing to sacrifice his chief ministerial ambitions for party unity. Simultaneously, Shivakumar reached out to voters, urging them to continue supporting the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government and appealing for public support in the 2028 assembly elections.
Growing Criticism and Religious Support
The public power struggle has drawn sharp criticism from senior Congress leader and former chief minister M Veerappa Moily, who described the situation as "practically an anarchy." In a strong statement, Moily said the open confrontation had caused "national embarrassment" and blamed the Congress high command for allowing the situation to deteriorate.
Moily warned that the party, already weakened in many states, could struggle to maintain its government in Karnataka if the "manufactured crisis" remains unresolved. His comments highlight the potential long-term damage the ongoing tussle could cause to Congress prospects in the state.
In a significant development, Shivakumar continues to receive support from prominent Vokkaliga seers. A day after Adichunchanagiri Mutt's Nirmalananda Swami visited him, another influential Vokkaliga religious leader, Brahmeshwara Mutt pontiff Gurugunda Nanjavadutha Swami, called on Shivakumar and publicly endorsed him for the chief minister's post.
The breakfast meeting between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar on Saturday morning is being seen as crucial for determining the future of Karnataka's Congress government and could potentially define the party's political trajectory in the southern state.
