Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Wednesday asserted that the party is united and focused on the 2028 assembly and 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
His remarks come as the Congress government in the state reached the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20, intensifying rumours of a "power-sharing" pact between him and Siddaramaiah that was allegedly made after the 2023 assembly elections.
Shivakumar, who is also the state Congress chief, was reluctant to disclose the message he is said to have received from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, amid the CM change speculations, and gave indications that he may visit Delhi to meet the party high command in the days ahead.
Denying any confusion or existence of factions, he said, "... no one should demand anything. There are no groups in the party, there is only one group, that is the Congress. Our group has 140 MLAs." Accusing the opposition BJP of "trying to create confusion", he said the ruling party should not give them the opportunity.
"They are making comments unnecessarily. All 140 of us are together. No one can shake us. I don't want anyone's offer....I'm a Congressman by birth." Amid reports that Rahul Gandhi had sent a personal message to him, the Deputy CM replied, "What Rahul Gandhi has communicated to me is not a matter to be discussed before the media. There is no need for me to speak about it." "Our goal is to win Karnataka in 2028 and to win at the national level in 2029, and to make Rahul Gandhi the Prime Minister. We will work towards this goal." Asked whether the party would return to power in 2028 under his leadership, Shivakumar asserted that he believed in collective leadership.
"I've been working as the party president for six years. I believe in collective leadership. I believe in party worship, not personality worship," he said.
Reluctant to comment on the alleged power-sharing agreement for 2.5 years, Shivakumar said, "I don't want to speak about anything in the media. Whatever is there -- party issues, we will discuss within four walls. I will not discuss any political issues in the media." The Deputy CM indicated that he may visit Delhi to meet the party high command in a couple of days, saying he would seek time if required.
"Today is Samvidhan Day, I could not have gone. Tomorrow there is a cabinet meet, I will not be able to go. After that, definitely, I will seek time if anything is there. Because I want to finalise four MLC seats. I want to reorganise the KPCC trust also. I want to discuss the party properties with senior leaders," he said.
Responding to a question regarding his meeting with senior Minister Satish Jarkiholi, who is considered close to CM Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar said they discussed political strategy and strengthening the party.
He maintained that he has been meeting a lot of other senior party leaders like Zameer Ahmed Khan, K H Muniyappa, and Priyank Kharge, to discuss political strategy. "We want to ensure that the party remains in power in the state and see to it that Rahul Gandhi takes over as the Prime Minister of the country after the 2029 Lok Sabha polls." "Of course, Satish Jarkiholi had worked with me as a working president (of the party). We have worked together. We are cabinet colleagues, we want to see that in 2028 we come back to power... I always keep meeting them. What's wrong? he is my colleague and senior leader of the party," he said.
To a question that a dinner meeting reportedly called by a section of party leaders has been called off, the Deputy CM said it is good, otherwise a wrong message would have been sent.
He dismissed questions about AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge's visit to the state, saying Kharge is coming to attend a marriage in his home state. "This is his Karmabhoomi, he keeps coming, what's wrong?" Regarding MLAs backing him flying to Delhi to pitch for his CM post, before the high command, Shivakumar claimed he was unaware of it.
"They (MLAs) are ministerial aspirants, and are making efforts for that, after the CM spoke about cabinet reshuffle," he said.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
