T’puram/ Davangere/Bengaluru/Mysuru, 29 November 

Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal on Saturday dismissed any speculations about a power tussle saying that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his Deputy DK Shivakumar are united after the pair’s breakfast meeting.

"You can see what is happening in Karnataka, in Bengaluru,” he said. “Nothing will happen. Congress will be united. They are together now in Bengaluru."

Similarly, Channagiri MLA Shivaganga Basavaraju reacted to the meeting saying, “There is only one faction among us: the Congress faction. The Congress high command will decide everything. The High Command has not cracked the whip on us. The CM chair is not vacant; let's talk once it is."

However, Basavaraju reiterated Shivakumar's claim to the CM post, stating, "If DK Shivakumar does not become CM in December, I said, I will write it in blood and give it to you." 

Basavaraj, Shivakumar’s close-aide, said the Bengaluru Minister is committed to his word and is waiting for the High Command's decision.

He also downplayed his and other MLA’s visits to New Delhi, saying it was for personal work.

The Karnataka Congress Disciplinary Committee had issued a notice to party MLA in August for statements about a change of Chief Minister.

Can’t help it if people wanted me as CM: Dr G 

Home Minister G Parameshwara said that there was nothing wrong with people wanting him as the Chief Minister. He said that it is up to the High Command to resolve the issues.

"Somebody wants DK Shivakumar as Chief Minister, somebody wants Siddaramaiah to continue, and somebody wants me to be the Chief Minister, and somebody wants somebody else,” he said. “So you cannot stop the aspirations of the people. Every time there is a talk about the Chief Minister, whether after the election or somewhere in between, Dalits express their aspirations. There is nothing wrong with it. It is up to the High Command.”

He added that the High Command was watching everything and taking note. 

Don't know who the CM is: BJP

Leader of Opposition in the Assembly and BJP MLA R Ashoka said that there was no coordination between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, and it was unclear who the current Chief Minister was.

Ashoka said, “Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar are engaged in a street fight. The Congress High Command is weak…. In the last one year, there has been no development, and there is no coordination between the CM and Deputy CM. Ministers are not coming to Vidhana Soudha. Some MLAs went to Delhi, and more than 12 to 13 MLAs to a resort in Bengaluru. We don't know who the CM is. Siddaramaiah is not CM now."

Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy said that the issue was Congress’ internal problem and had no connection with the people of Karnataka. 

Meanwhile, BJP National Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla took a swipe at the breakfast meeting, calling it a “breakup par makeup” meeting and alleging that the two leaders were attempting to bury their internal rift by putting on a display of unity.

“(Congress leader) Veerappa Moily has said that (High Command) is very irresponsible for allowing such issues to happen,” he wrote on X. (Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar) deserve the best actor and supporting actor awards for their acting in unity.”

Waste of time, drama: JD(S) mocks b’fast meet 

Union Minister and JD(S) MP HD Kumaraswamy slammed the Congress government on Saturday, calling the power tussle "a drama" and accusing the ruling party of neglecting development.

"A drama is going on. We are eagerly waiting for the outcome of this ultimate drama,” he said. “Where is the development? Development has collapsed in Karnataka... Work started by the previous governments is continuing. There is no fresh work by this government. They are just trying to grab land and loot the State." 

Meanwhile, JD(S) MLA and HDK’s son Nikhil Kumaraswamy on mocked the breakfast meeting, saying the Congress was "united only for breakfast" but deeply divided on all other matters.

"They had given around 540 promises, out of which only nine have been fulfilled. Yet they claim they've completed 239. On the other hand, the state is burdened with a debt of three lakh crore," he said. "Thousands of issues need attention, but instead we are discussing leadership quarrels.”

Meanwhile, the JD(S)’ official X account posted that "The High Command needs to step in to even serve snacks in Congress.” 

AHINDA leaders demand CM continues; Vokkaliga’s take out bike rally 

Members of various AHINDA organisations held a meeting in Mysuru urging the Congress High Command to allow Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to complete his full five year term. On the other hand, members of the Vokkaligara Sangha took out a bike rally in support of Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar. 

Members of the State Backward Classes Forum, AHINDA Okkuta and the Constitution Protection Committee held meeting at a private hotel in Mysuru and planned to launch a series of agitations in support of Siddaramaiah.  State Backward Classes Forum President KS Shivaramu said that AHINDA leaders have planned to hold a protest outside the AICC Office in New Delhi. 

Meanwhile, members of Vokkaligara Sangha took out a protest bike rally from Chandramouleshwara temple from Vontikoppal to Kote Anjaneyaswamy temple to support Shivakumar, who is from the community.