No intention of meeting high command: Karnataka Deputy CM Shivakumar on Delhi visit
New Delhi, Dec 3 (Reuters) – Amid a leadership fight in Karnataka, Deputy Chief Minister and State Congress President D.K. Shivakumar clarified on Wednesday that he had no intention of meeting senior party officials during his Delhi trip.
“Our leaders are currently focused on the parliamentary session, so I don’t want to disturb them right now. I’ll head back to Bengaluru on Thursday morning,” Shivakumar told reporters at the capital.
When asked why he came to New Delhi, he replied, “I’m here for a wedding ceremony. Also, the party has decided to bring 10,000 Keralites to the protest rally on 14 December, and as president I’m responsible for arranging everything.”
On the forthcoming Congress Working Committee meeting on 8 December, he said, “I’ve told my team to have all documents ready. We must present our case; otherwise the session could be postponed. There is a six‑month window to prepare.”
When pressed about a breakfast conversation with the Chief Minister, Shivakumar explained, “We covered a range of topics, from advancing Karnataka’s agenda together to strengthening party organisation.”
The arrival of Karnataka Chief Minister K.C. Venugopal drew pro‑Shivakumar slogans, and the party got awkward when Venugopal left Mangaluru International Airport earlier that day.
Supporters led by local leaders launched chants after Siddaramaiah exited the airport and received state honors. In response to earlier pro‑Shivakumar slogans, Siddaramaiah’s fans shouted slogans in his favor, embarrassing the party’s image.
Defending the cheers that called for his elevation to Chief Minister, Shivakumar said that his followers have been chanting such slogans for a decade and that they should be taken in a “sporting spirit” because “in politics, there will be slogans both for and against us.”
He added, “The slogans ‘DK, DK’ have been going on for 10 years. Nothing wrong with it. Some people chant Modi’s name, some chant Rahul, some shout Siddu. It’s all out of love and affection. We should see it as a sporting spirit.”
He concluded, “Admirers raise slogans. In politics, there will always be slogans for and against us. We can’t let it bother us too much.”
According to his itinerary, Shivakumar will attend a wedding at Hotel Le Meridien and stay overnight in Delhi. He plans to depart for Bengaluru at 8 a.m. on Thursday, arriving at 10:55 a.m.
Sources suggest he might have informal meetings with national leaders at the wedding and during his overnight stay, possibly speaking with Rahul Gandhi and Randeep Singh Surjewala.
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