Bengaluru, February 10 Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said on Tuesday that he has "no confusion" regarding the leadership issue involving Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, as the two leaders have discussed the matter involving the Congress high command, and warned local party functionaries against making any statements on the CM change.
He cautioned party leaders and legislators against making remarks on the contentious issue, reminding them of AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge's earlier statement asking everyone in the party to "shut their mouths" and fulfill their assigned duties.
"There is no confusion. Others may have confusion, but I don't," Shivakumar said in response to a question about the demand from within the party that the leadership issue should be resolved soon.
His comments came amid the power struggle between him and Siddaramaiah, with the latter's son and MLC Yathindra insisting last week that his father would complete his five-year term, with the party high command having given the signal in this regard.
Speaking to reporters here before leaving for New Delhi, Shivakumar said, "I know what Siddaramaiah and I have discussed. We have not discussed it secretly. We have discussed involving our party leadership. Others taking tension and making statements on the issue won't help anyone."
"Whoever is making statements, either in my favour or against me, whether they are ministers or legislators or whoever it is, they are damaging the party. Such statements won't do any good for the party. Mallikarjun Kharge had said that it will be good if everyone shut their mouth. We should all abide by it," Shivakumar, also the state Congress chief, added.
To a question on Congress MLA Iqbal Hussain recently asking why Yathindra Siddaramaiah was not served any notice by the party, despite having to face one for making statements on the leadership issue, Shivakumar said, "let's ask the high command about it."
Hussain had previously been served a notice by the party for his public backing of Shivakumar's elevation.
The leadership tussle within the ruling party has intensified amid speculation about a possible change of chief minister after the Congress government completes the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20, 2025.
The speculation has been fueled by the reported "power-sharing" arrangement between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar at the time of the government formation in 2023.
Shivakumar, who has been appointed by the Congress as a senior observer for upcoming Assam polls, said he was going to New Delhi to attend an AICC meeting regarding elections, and played down speculations about him not attending CM's pre-budget meetings with his water resources and Bengaluru development departments.
"Today evening, I have an AICC meeting on political matters related to various elections. I have been called by the AICC, I will attend the meeting. Election dates may be announced any time, we have reached that stage. I have been to Kerala. I have to go to Assam," he said.
Stating that there were pre-budget meetings concerning his departments, he said, "but I have requested the Chief Minister (for permission)."
"I have done budget meetings with officials of the departments, officials will be present (at the meeting with CM). I will come back and discuss with him."
Siddaramaiah, who also holds the finance portfolio, has been holding a series of pre-budget meetings with various departments.
The 2026-27 Budget is likely to be presented in March, according to official sources. This would be Siddaramaiah's 17th budget.
Asked about meeting with high command leaders during his Delhi visit, the Deputy CM said, "once I go there, I will meet every one possible. Parliament session is also on, I will certainly meet if they are free."
To a question on some Congress legislators expecting that he will return with a "good news", he said, "every day is a good news for me."
"Every day is a good life for me. Every day is a good beginning for me. Every day is a successful day for me. So every day is good, happy, also every day is difficult, as nothing is easy. To resolve the difficulties of the people every day, there will be lot of difficulties and issues, there will be obstacles, criticism. We have to face them and continue with our work," he added.
