D K Shivakumar will become CM when high command decides: Siddaramaiah

Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Tuesday his deputy D K Shivakumar will head the government “when the high command decides”.

Siddaramaiah said this after having breakfast at Shivakumar’s Sadashivanagar residence in what was another show of bonhomie between the two leaders, which the Congress high command wanted to conceal their leadership tussle. 

“Shivakumar and I have always been united. We are like brothers working in the same party and under the same ideology. For 2028, too, we will work together and bring the party to power,” Siddaramaiah told reporters. 

This was their second breakfast meeting. Last Saturday, the Saiddaramaiah hosted Shivakumar for breakfast on instructions from Congress general secretary K C Venugopal. “Both of us have decided to listen to whatever the high command decides, especially Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge,” Siddaramaiah said. 

Asked when Shivakumar will become the CM, Siddaramaiah said: “When the high command decides.”

Siddaramaiah claimed that he discussed with Shivakumar the government’s strategy to face the Opposition during the upcoming winter session of the legislature.

“I have read in the newspapers that the Opposition wants to move a no-confidence motion and raise a host of issues. The government will aggressively face them,” Siddaramaiah said. 

While Siddaramaiah did most of the talking to reporters, Shivakumar said all MLAs were “united” and there were no differences. “We are with one voice. There are no differences in the party; it is only media creation,” he said, adding that he also discussed with the CM the finalisation of four MLC election tickets. 

Visit to Delhi

Over breakfast, Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar discussed visiting New Delhi to convene a meeting with Karnataka MPs on December 8. 

“Most likely, on December 8, the Assembly will be adjourned as a sitting member -- H Y Meti -- passed away. So, we want to call a meeting of MPs on that day,” Siddaramaiah said, adding that MPs will be asked to raise state-specific issues. 

Siddaramaiah said he would meet the party’s top brass “if given an appointment”. 

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Siddaramaiah said he would meet Venugopal at an event in Mangaluru. On the sidelines of the event, it is possible that Siddaramaiah may broach the topic of his tenure.