Belagavi: The political atmosphere in Karnataka Congress has heated up dramatically as discussions over leadership change intensified during the ongoing Winter Session at Suvarna Soudha.
Even as the party attempted to project unity following last week’s breakfast meeting between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar in Bengaluru, fresh developments in Belagavi have reignited the simmering power struggle.
The controversy took a sharp turn after CM Siddaramaiah’s son, Yathindra Siddaramaiah, made a provocative statement on Wednesday regarding the continuation of his father’s leadership. His remarks acted like fuel on a slowly dying fire, reopening internal rifts that the high command believed had been temporarily controlled.
The political narrative quickly shifted from Bengaluru to Belagavi, where secretive and strategically planned dinner meetings by rival camps have intensified speculation about an impending power shift.
On Wednesday night, a major dinner meeting was held at the residence of former MLA Feroz Saith, attended by ministers and MLAs considered close to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. This gathering was seen as a show of strength by the CM camp after Yathindra’s remarks created embarrassment within the party.
Just 24 hours later, Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar organised a parallel dinner meeting with his loyalists at the farmhouse of mining baron Doddanavar on the outskirts of Belagavi. The event was coordinated by Shivakumar’s brother and MP D.K. Suresh.
The scale of participation revealed the seriousness of the internal mobilization: more than 40 MLAs and ministers attended, all part of the DK Shivakumar faction. Notably, Siddaramaiah’s supporters were not invited to this gathering, giving the meeting clear political undertones.
Intense discussions and strong demands:
According to sources, the dinner meeting witnessed intense discussions about Yathindra Siddaramaiah’s recent comments. Several MLAs reportedly urged D.K. Shivakumar to issue a notice to Yathindra for overstepping his role and speaking on leadership matters.
Shivakumar is said to have assured his camp that he would respond to the issue “at the right time” and asked them to remain patient.
Many MLAs, reaffirming their loyalty to Shivakumar, reportedly declared that he must be made the next Chief Minister. Some even promised to personally convey this demand to the Congress high command in Delhi. The meeting, insiders say, was less a casual dinner and more a strategic conclave to consolidate strength before a possible leadership showdown.
High command summons dk shivakumar:
Amid these escalating hostilities, reports emerged that the Congress high command has summoned D.K. Shivakumar to New Delhi next week. This development has further fuelled speculation about whether the leadership issue will reach a decisive moment soon.
Sources suggest that the discussion on CM change was openly held during the dinner meeting, and MLAs assured Shivakumar of their support if the high command chooses to reconsider the current arrangement.
Political temperature rising again:
The renewed tension has revived the leadership debate that erupted earlier this year when Shivakumar and his supporters pressed for a rotational Chief Ministership arrangement. Although the high command previously intervened, repeatedly stating that there would be no leadership change, the political ground realities during the Belagavi session indicate that the storm is far from over.
The dual dinner meetings—one by Siddaramaiah’s loyalists and another by Shivakumar’s camp—symbolise the deepening divide inside the Karnataka Congress. With both camps holding separate strategy gatherings, the internal battle appears to be entering a crucial phase.
As the winter session continues, political circles are abuzz with one question: Is the stage being set for a larger leadership confrontation? With the high command now involved again, all eyes are on Delhi to see whether the Congress will manage to maintain stability or head toward another round of intense internal conflict.
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