Karnataka power tussle: D K Shivakumar to skip pre-budget meeting with Siddaramaiah as he heads to Delhi

Bengaluru: Amid continuing speculation over power-sharing in the Congress, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar announced on Monday that he would be travelling to Delhi, skipping the pre-budget meeting of his water resources and Bengaluru Urban Development portfolios scheduled to be chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who is also the finance minister.

Shivakumar is leaving for Delhi on Tuesday morning. On the same day, Siddaramaiah is slated to hold the pre-budget meeting for two of Shivakumar's departments.

Speaking to reporters here, Shivakumar played down his absence from the meeting, saying the department's work was already on track.

"The chief minister is the chairman of the water resources department. Our officers are present and I have already briefed them. There is nothing much to do in the department as everything is planned," he said.

On the purpose of his Delhi visit, Shivakumar said he would be meeting central ministers, the party’s legal team and senior Congress leaders.

"I am going to meet central ministers, our legal team, Congress leaders and the high command, which has called me,” he said.

When asked whether Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had summoned him, Shivakumar remarked cryptically, "I can’t reveal all that.”

Brushing aside persistent queries from the media, he said, "Why are you so curious? I am the state Congress president, besides being deputy CM. I will be completing six years as KPCC president on March 6. It is my duty to meet our leader of Opposition, leaders and MPs. I will keep meeting them, sharing my troubles and pain, and perhaps all your desire (of me becoming the CM) too".

Elaborating on his visit, Shivakumar said he would be visiting Indira Bhavan in Delhi and meeting some leaders at their residences.

"Whomever I meet, they will tell you," he quipped.

On being reminded that one of his supporters had expressed a desire to see him as chief minister during this term, Shivakumar shot back, "Don’t you people desire it?"

On skipping the pre-budget meeting, he said, "I am going to Delhi tomorrow. I will take the chief minister’s permission. Since he is the chairman, he knows things better than me".

When pressed on whether power transfer would be discussed in Delhi, Shivakumar replied briefly, "I am a political man," and walked away.