Karnataka: D K Shivakumar holds talks with Priyank Kharge, Satish Jarkiholi

Bengaluru: Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar’s separate meetings with his Cabinet colleagues Priyank Kharge and Satish Jarkiholi have created political buzz. 

On Friday morning, Priyank, the IT/BT Minister who is in touch with top Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, visited Shivakumar’s Sadashivanagar residence and held talks. 

On Thursday night, Shivakumar met Satish on the sidelines of a wedding they attended and talked. This was their second meeting in less than two weeks.

“It is true that Satish Jarkiholi and I met at a wedding last evening. We discussed the state and the party. We are colleagues, why do you paint us as enemies?” Shivakumar told reporters.

“We may attend a Cabinet meeting together in the afternoon and then catch up for dinner in the evening. Or, we may meet for breakfast in the morning. Friendships and bonding are common in politics,” he said. 

Earlier in the day, Shivakumar met Industries Minister M B Patil on the sidelines of the inauguration of a new KIADB office.

“I spoke to Patil for about an hour. We discussed several aspects on attracting investors and facing competition from Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Telangana is also holding a global summit
soon. We discussed how to compete at the global level. It is natural for Cabinet colleagues to discuss state’s progress,” Shivakumar said. 

Meanwhile, a delegation of seers from backward communities met Shivakumar and ‘blessed’ him on Friday. The delegation had seers from the Idiga, Chalavadi, Kumbara, Vishwakarma, Uppara, Hoogara, Hadapada, Ganiga, Nekara, Valmiki and Koli communities.