Shivakumar's denial, along with the recent developments, including the Delhi visit of MLAs loyal to him, has been widely seen as a tactic to bring the high command to the discussion table.
Published Nov 27, 2025 | 4:28 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 27, 2025 | 4:28 PM
DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah. Credit: x.com/DKShivakumar
Synopsis: Speculations surrounding a possible leadership change in the Karnataka government gathered steam as leaders held back-to-back meetings, and a tweet from Deputy Chief Minister, DK Shivakumar’s X handle, made the rounds.
Amid ongoing talks of a possible change in leadership, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and Pradesh Congress Committee President DK Shivakumar, on Thursday, 27 November, said that he would visit Delhi if the high command summoned him for a discussion.
He was responding to reporters’ queries on AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge’s statement that both Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar would be called to Delhi for discussions.
However, Shivakumar denied posting a cryptic message on X, saying, “Word power is world power. The biggest force in the world was to keep one’s word.” The said post used the past tense, “was” instead of “is”.
The post on Shivakumar’s X handle, which he said, was fake.
“Be it a judge, president or anyone else, including myself, everyone has to walk the talk. Word power is world power,” it added.
Terming it fabricated, the deputy chief minister insisted that he had not made the statement on X.
“I have not posted anything on Twitter. It is fake,” he told reporters in Bengaluru. This despite the post appearing on his timeline.
The message, despite Shivakumar’s denial, was not lost. He had made the same statement during a Constitution Day speech at the KPCC office in Bengaluru on Wednesday.
However, the post was interpreted as a reminder to the Congress high command, which reportedly had struck a pact on power sharing after the 2023 Assembly election.
Shivakumar’s denial, along with the recent developments, including the Delhi visit of MLAs loyal to him, has been widely seen as a tactic to bring the high command to the discussion table.
“If Siddaramaiah, as he claims, is going to be CM for five full years, then why are these names being propped up? Shivakumar only wants the party leadership to hold talks and come to a decision on the transfer of power without hiccups — as promised. Shivakumar has sacrificed a lot for the party while Siddaramaiah has only enjoyed power,” a close aide of the deputy chief minister had told South First.
The fresh development came even as the buzz surrounding a possible leadership change in the state refused to die, with different party leaders holding back-to-back meetings, which have been described as “routine.”
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday said that he would “call everyone for a discussion” amid speculations of a leadership change in Karnataka.
“I will call everyone for a discussion, in which Rahul Gandhi will also be present. Other members, the CM, and our Deputy CM will also be present. After calling everyone and holding a discussion, a decision will be made,” Kharge told reporters.
Separately, Siddaramaiah also said he would attend the meeting if invited.
He further said that when he referred to ‘high command’, it was a ‘team’ and not a single person. “The whole high command team will sit and arrive at a decision,” Kharge said.
