Shivakumar skips Budget meeting, attends party meeting in Delhi

The power-sharing tussle within the Karnataka Congress appeared to escalate on Tuesday as Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar skipped a pre-Budget meeting of two key departments and travelled to New Delhi, sharpening focus on internal party tensions.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, responding to questions on the leadership row, reiterated that the party high command’s decision would be final. “Why do you keep asking? If Mr. Shivakumar has said something, ask him,” he said, adding that he would not visit New Delhi unless formally invited, citing Budget-related engagements in Bengaluru.

‘Refrain from comment’

Mr. Shivakumar, meanwhile, cautioned party leaders against making public statements on leadership change, stating that such remarks would only harm the party.

He said AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge had directed leaders to refrain from commenting on power-sharing issues.

“I don’t hide anything. The Chief Minister and I know what we discussed, and it was in consultation with the party high command,” Mr Shivakumar said, in an apparent reference to the power-sharing understanding reached during the formation of the Congress government in May 2023.

‘DKS informed me’

Explaining the Deputy Chief Minister’s absence from the pre-Budget meeting of the Water Resources and Bengaluru Urban Development Departments, Mr. Siddaramaiah said Mr. Shivakumar had informed him about his travel to Delhi for AICC-related meetings concerning the upcoming Assam Assembly elections.

Mr. Shivakumar, who has been appointed the Congress election in charge for Assam, said departmental work would not be affected by his absence. “The Chief Minister is the chairman of the Water Resources Department. Officers are present and everything is planned,” he said.

However, his Delhi visit has once again brought internal Congress dynamics in Karnataka under the spotlight. Party sources said Mr. Shivakumar is expected to discuss political developments in the State with senior leaders.

Congress sources also indicated that no leadership change or Cabinet reshuffle is likely in the coming months, at least until the completion of Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.