D.K. Shivakumar to leave for Delhi on Sunday

Amid speculation over a possible leadership change after the presentation of the State Budget for 2026–27, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar will leave for New Delhi on Sunday along with AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge.

After participating in the foundation-laying ceremony for various development programmes in Chittapur in Kalaburagi, Mr. Shivakumar and Mr. Kharge are expected to depart for Delhi on a special flight from Kalaburagi airport, according to the tour programme of the KPCC president.

Mr. Shivakumar will stay in Delhi on Sunday and is expected to meet the top leadership of the Congress on Monday and discuss political developments of the State.

A few loyal legislators of the KPCC chief recently held a dinner meeting and expressed their intention to travel to Delhi to urge the party high command to elevate Mr. Shivakumar to the post of Chief Minister after the Budget session of the legislature. The session is scheduled to conclude on March 27.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, speaking in Mysuru, reiterated that he would continue in office as long as the party high command wanted him to.

Interestingly, Mr. Shivakumar has said nothing about the State Budget presented by Mr. Siddaramaiah on Friday. A few days ago, he had said he did not need the State Budget to carry out developmental works in the Bengaluru South district. “There is no need to have expectations from the Budget. With or without the Budget, we are doing our work,” he said.

Dinner meeting

In another development, Mr. Shivakumar is expected to host a dinner meeting of all MLAs and MLCs of the Congress on March 10 to mark the completion of six years as KPCC president. Mr. Siddaramaiah is also expected to be invited to the dinner, sources said.