Shivakumar insisted that neither he nor any other leader had spoken about power sharing and accused the media of creating an atmosphere of confusion.
Published Nov 24, 2025 | 10:57 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 24, 2025 | 10:57 PM
Shivakumar dismissed suggestions of internal discord, describing Siddaramaiah’s words as “veda vaakya”. (X)
Synopsis: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Monday backed Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and accused the media of creating “confusion” over alleged power-sharing talks. His remarks came amid days of speculation over a leadership change. He insisted that neither he nor any other leader had spoken about power sharing and accused the media of creating an atmosphere of confusion.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Monday, 24 November sought to project unity within the Congress government, backing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s statement earlier in the day that both leaders would abide by any decision taken by the party high command on a potential leadership change.
The remarks followed several days of intense speculation, triggered by a group of Congress MLAs, largely considered loyal to Shivakumar, travelling to Delhi to meet the party high command to reportedly press for the honouring of a “power-sharing” agreement that was said to have been agreed upon after the 2023 assembly elections.
Shivakumar dismissed suggestions of internal discord, describing Siddaramaiah’s words as “veda vaakya” and calling him an “asset to the party.”
“Siddaramaiah is an asset to the party and I respect his words. We are all working under his guidance,” he told reporters at his residence in Sadashivanagar.
He insisted that neither he nor any other leader had spoken about power sharing and accused the media of creating an atmosphere of confusion.
“The media is unnecessarily making news out of it and creating confusion. If there is confusion, we will resolve it with the high command. If any decision has been taken, it has been taken within the four walls,” he added.
The Congress government in Karnataka completed half its five-year tenure on 20 November, prompting a surge in political chatter about a “November revolution.”
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, however, has been firm that he intends to present his record seventeenth budget and complete his full term.
In contrast, Shivakumar has been cryptic in his responses on occasion. But on Monday, the Deputy Chief Minister took a clearer tone and asserted that the MLAs’ visits to Delhi, widely seen as an effort to lobby in his stead, were for their own personal interests.
“They have ambitions to become ministers. What is wrong in that?” he said. “Our Delhi office is like a temple. How can we say no to anyone going there?”
He rejected suggestions that such visits violated party discipline, clarifying that only anti-party statements or organising factional activities would constitute a breach.
The Deputy Chief Minister also downplayed questions about his not meeting AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge.
“I met him in Delhi the day before yesterday. Is it appropriate to meet him too many times? I don’t want to trouble him, I will take his time if I need to meet him,” he said.
“You [media] are standing at our doorstep and reporting every move of ours. Our getting into our house or drinking tea is also getting reported. We all don’t have any issues among ourselves but we are all troubled by the media.”
Shivakumar also launched a sharp attack on the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing it of institutionalising the practice of “horse trading” of MLAs.
“BJP is very conversant with horse trading of MLAs. JD(S) [Janata Dal (Secular)] was the victim of it and now they are caught in this. When the BJP government was formed in the past, how many thousands of crores did they spend? Had they not fixed rates for different posts like a hotel menu?” he asked.
He said the BJP was now “remembering its own past practices” as it targeted the Congress government.
His remarks follow comments by AICC general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala, who last week accused the BJP and sections of the media of deliberately fuelling speculation to undermine the government’s achievements.
When asked about JD(S) and the BJP ridiculing Mallikarjun Kharge as a rubber stamp president of the AICC, he said, “Mallikarjun Kharge said High Command because there is a committee in the party which involves multiple leaders. Is it possible to decide on things just because I am the KPCC President? When we finalized four names recently, I had to discuss it with chief minister, district in charge minister and aspirants. Mallikarjun Kharge has meant that.”
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
