BENGALURU: “Being the party president, I know my limits. Nowhere have I made any comments or expressed a difference of opinion with the CM,” said Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar after a much-discussed breakfast meeting with chief minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday.Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Shivakumar said, “There is no difference between me and the CM. Being the party president, I know my limits. Nowhere have I made any comments or expressed a difference of opinion with the CM. We are all working together.”“There are a lot of aspirations of the people of Karnataka, and we are committed to working for them. Our aim is 2028 and 2029, and we are working for it. The CM and I will work out a strategy. We want to call an all-party meeting on various issues,” he added further.The closed-door meeting The closed-door meeting at the CM’s residence, which featured a traditional idli-vada-sambar spread, was reportedly convened following a nudge from the party’s central leadership amid persistent speculation over the state’s power-sharing arrangement. Sources said the discussion “hit a bit of an impasse,” with Shivakumar seeking a chance to lead the government in the future, citing his organizational contributions. Siddaramaiah reportedly suggested Shivakumar could take over after the 2028 assembly polls and stressed that any decision would follow consultation with Rahul Gandhi. Both leaders maintained a cordial front publicly, with Siddaramaiah saying the talks focused on party affairs, governance, and preparations for the winter session beginning December 8. He blamed media and opposition speculation for fueling rumours. Shivakumar echoed the CM’s stance, insisting there was “no conflict” and that both leaders had agreed to prioritize administration and party unity. “The party is in a very difficult stage in the country, but we are confident that Karnataka will play a major role in its revival, and we will repeat in 2028 the poll victory of 2023,” he added. Party insiders indicated the central leadership is likely to review any leadership transition in January, with speculation expected to intensify as Siddaramaiah approaches January 7, when he is set to surpass Devaraj Urs as Karnataka’s longest-serving CM.
