New Delhi: Political activity in the Karnataka Congress intensified in the national capital on Friday as outgoing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar held a series of meetings amid growing buzz over the next phase of leadership and government formation in the state.
According to reports, Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar and senior leader K J George held discussions over the possible formula for the new political arrangement in Karnataka. The meeting was followed by a lunch interaction, which has triggered fresh speculation in political circles. Siddaramaiah’s son and MLC Yathindra Siddaramaiah was also seen during the engagement.
The Delhi meetings came after Siddaramaiah resigned from the Chief Minister’s post, reportedly following the Congress high command’s push for a smooth leadership transition. Though he is said to have declined an offer of a Rajya Sabha seat, Siddaramaiah continues to be involved in discussions on the future structure of the state government and party organisation.
Earlier in the day, Siddaramaiah met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress general secretary K C Venugopal. The discussions reportedly covered cabinet reshuffle, Rajya Sabha elections and other organisational matters linked to Karnataka.
There is also speculation in political circles that Siddaramaiah may have pushed for a significant role for his son Yathindra, including a possible Deputy Chief Minister position. However, no official confirmation has been given by the Congress on this matter.
Shivakumar, who is also the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president, separately met Kharge on Friday. The meeting is being viewed as important at a time when Congress leaders are preparing for the next legislative party meeting. According to Congress MLA Ashok Pattan, Shivakumar is likely to be elected leader of the Congress Legislature Party at the meeting scheduled for Saturday.
Pattan also suggested that around 20 new faces could be inducted into a proposed 40 member ministry. He claimed Shivakumar no longer has a serious rival in the leadership race.
The developments indicate that the Congress is trying to manage the transition carefully while balancing camps within the party. For Karnataka, the next few days will be politically crucial as the party finalises leadership, cabinet composition and its broader strategy ahead of future electoral challenges.