'No Rift, Will Listen To High Command': Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar Stress Unity After Breakfast Meet

Last Updated:November 29, 2025, 11:37 IST

Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said, "If High command says wait, I waited. I will wait. We will do whatever high command tell."

DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah. (X)

Karnataka Power Tussle: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday dismissed the claims of overhaul of the leadership and differences between him and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, saying that the two leaders share a good relationship and there are no differences between them.

While addressing a press conference after meeting Shivakumar over breakfast today, the Chief Minister said that today’s meeting was aimed at clearing a “month-long confusion."

Siddaramaiah said the two leaders had reviewed preparations for the 2028 Assembly elections and upcoming local body polls, which he termed “very important" for the Congress.

He emphasised that just as they worked together to bring the party to power in 2023, they had now resolved to move forward in the same spirit.

“Our agenda is the 2028 elections. Local body elections are important. We discussed them. We also discussed bringing back Congress in the 2028 elections. We discussed that we will go together. There are no differences between us and there will be no differences in the future…" he said.

He further said that several MLAs had met the party high command because they aspired to ministerial roles, but insisted this did not indicate any challenge to the leadership. “Some of them spoke to me and told me why they went to Delhi. Whatever the high command says, we will go by that," he said.

The Breakfast Meet

The remarks came after the two sat for breakfast amid the power tussle. The photo of the two leaders sharing plates of upma, idli and kesari bath — Karnataka’s quintessential breakfast trio — conveyed an understated message that their relationship is on steady ground.

Siddaramaiah shared a photo of him and Shivakumar having breakfast on X, saying that both leaders had a brief discussion, while Shivakumar described it as a “productive discussion" focused on the state’s priorities, adding that they also spoke about “the road ahead."

The development came a day after the Congress’s high command stepped in to end infighting and asked both the leaders to meet in a bid to resolve the crisis.

After the high command’s nudge, Siddaramaiah invited Shivakumar for a meeting over breakfast on Saturday.

Karnataka Power Tussle

Infighting has resurfaced as supporters of both camps push for their leaders to occupy the chief minister’s post—a dispute that began after the Congress’s 2023 Assembly election victory.

However, the party eventually picked Siddaramaiah as the Chief Minister. There were reports at the time that Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar had agreed to a power-sharing arrangement, though the Congress has never officially announced the deal.

Since Siddaramaiah took over as chief minister, MLAs and leaders backing Shivakumar have often demanded a leadership change in the state. This time, however, Shivakumar’s loyalists are more vocal, as Siddaramaiah has completed 2.5 years in office, and they believe he should step aside in line with the alleged power-sharing arrangement.

While Siddaramaiah has time and again stressed that he will complete the full term, Shivakumar’s remarks have indicated that the Congress wants to be tight-lipped about the issue. The two leaders have, however, maintained that they will abide by the final decision of the party high command.

A Cabinet reshuffle is expected, leaving the high command to decide whether to retain Siddaramaiah for the 2028 polls or elevate Shivakumar, who played a key role in the party’s 2023 success.

News politics 'No Rift, Will Listen To High Command': Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar Stress Unity After Breakfast Meet

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