New Delhi/Bengaluru: Deputy CM DK Shivakumar turned heads on Thursday with a pointed message after high-level meetings in the national capital. Dismissing idle speculation, he asserted his purpose: serious political business, not sightseeing.
Fresh from Sonia Gandhi’s 10 Janpath residence, Shivakumar faced a barrage of questions from the media. Did he meet Rahul or Priyanka Gandhi? ‘That’s not for public discussion,’ he shot back. ‘I came to 10 Janpath, met the national leadership, and covered all necessary topics. I’m not playing roadside politics.’
His Wednesday meetings with Kharge and Venugopal set the stage, where he briefed them comprehensively on Karnataka affairs. ‘Upon reaching Delhi, I had to apprise them on all issues. Publicly detailing everything isn’t feasible,’ he explained.
The conversations extended to national strategies, including Assam elections. Shivakumar huddled with Bhupesh Baghel and others, aligning reports and plotting a Congress comeback in the northeastern state.
Karnataka Congress is abuzz with Shivakumar’s post-meeting swagger, especially whispers of chats with Rahul Gandhi on leadership transitions. Party sources claim he first conferred with Priyanka on Assam, then broached the CM post with Rahul – a meeting he’d long sought.
With MLAs backing him and high command intervention urged to end confusion, Shivakumar emerges as the strong contender. The timing is poignant, following DK Suresh’s outburst against ‘imported’ leaders, interpreted as a dig at Siddaramaiah amid internal pulls.
Shivakumar’s refrain – ‘time will clarify everything’ – hangs heavy, hinting at brewing changes. As Karnataka watches, this Delhi dash could mark the pivot in the state’s power dynamics.