The ongoing leadership crisis in Karnataka saw a moment of calm on Saturday after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar met over breakfast and jointly dismissed rumours of internal conflict, asserting that there were “no differences” between them. The meeting, held at Siddaramaiah’s official residence in Bengaluru, came amid intense speculation over a possible power-sharing arrangement and talk of a rotational Chief Ministership halfway through the Congress government’s term. Over the past few weeks, pressure had mounted from within the party, especially from legislators loyal to Shivakumar, prompting the Congress high command to intervene and instruct both leaders to sit together and resolve any misunderstandings.
Following the meeting, both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar addressed the media, projecting a united front and emphasising their commitment to the party’s decisions. Siddaramaiah said he would abide by whatever the high command decides, while Shivakumar reiterated that he was in no hurry and that the Congress leadership would ultimately take the call on Karnataka’s next steps. The breakfast meeting was widely interpreted as an attempt to control the political optics, especially with the opposition BJP highlighting the tensions and the state preparing for key legislative and parliamentary sessions. Although the leaders have publicly downplayed the reported rift, the political climate remains sensitive, and all eyes are now on the Congress high command, which is expected to monitor the situation closely and decide whether the current arrangement continues or a leadership change is implemented. For now, the party hopes this show of unity will help stabilise the government and shift focus back to governance.
