Rahul Gandhi's Mysuru Airport Chat with Shivakumar Fuels Karnataka CM Change Buzz
A short, exclusive interaction between Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar at Mysuru airport on Tuesday sparked fresh political speculation. The meeting fueled intense rumors about a possible change in the state's chief minister position. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah quickly dismissed these talks, insisting no political discussions occurred.
Airport Movements and the Private Exchange
Rahul Gandhi arrived at Mysuru's Mandakalli airport around 2 pm via a special flight. He was traveling to Gudalur in Tamil Nadu. Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar received him at the airport. The two state leaders had flown together to Mysuru earlier in the day.
Rahul Gandhi departed for Gudalur by helicopter within minutes of landing. The chief minister and his deputy left the airport separately at that time.
Later, Rahul Gandhi returned to Mysuru airport ahead of schedule for his flight back to Delhi. Shivakumar reached the airport early to meet him. The two leaders engaged in a private, one-on-one conversation on the tarmac. This exchange lasted approximately three minutes.
Siddaramaiah joined them after this private talk. Rahul Gandhi then interacted briefly with both state leaders together. He boarded a special flight around 5:45 pm to return to Delhi.
Political Reactions and Denials
The exclusive tarmac conversation immediately reignited political buzz across Karnataka. Speculation about a leadership change has persisted for some time. Shivakumar shared photographs of the meeting with reporters afterward. However, neither he nor Siddaramaiah made any official statements to the media.
Earlier in the day, Shivakumar attended a guard of honour presentation for Siddaramaiah by Mysuru city police. He did not stay for the chief minister's media interaction afterward. Shivakumar later waited at a city hotel for Rahul Gandhi's return. Siddaramaiah went to his Ramakrishna Nagar residence.
When questioned about the meeting, Siddaramaiah firmly denied any internal conflict. "The media is speculating about a CM change," he stated. "There is no confusion or issues between Shivakumar and me. Some MLAs have spoken without proper knowledge. Only Shivakumar and I can speak on this matter. Any decision regarding a change will come from the party high command. We will both follow that decision."
Security Measures and Previous Incidents
Congress party officials and local police took strict precautions to avoid disruptions. They barred party workers from entering Mysuru airport on Tuesday. This decision followed a recent incident at Mangaluru International Airport.
Last month, supporters of both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar created chaotic scenes during AICC general secretary KC Venugopal's visit. They shouted slogans advocating for their preferred leader as chief minister. The party wanted to prevent a repeat of those demonstrations.
The brief airport interaction, though seemingly minor, has captured significant political attention. It highlights the ongoing tensions and discussions within the Karnataka Congress leadership. All eyes now turn to the party's high command for any potential decisions.
