Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday said he had received an invitation from the Congress high command to Delhi on May 26 for a meeting, with the BJP accusing Congress president Mallikarjun Karge of “inciting a fight” between Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar “like two cats, while behaving like a monkey”.
His remarks come amid an expected row within the Karnataka Congress over alleged power-sharing arrangements after the government completed three years in power.
Siddaramaiah said he hopes to remain in office for the full five-year term. He also said that he would follow any decision taken by the party leadership. Meanwhile, Shivakumar has repeatedly said that he will also follow the decision of the Congress leadership, adding that time will decide what will happen regarding any possible change.
Siddaramaiah at the invitation of the Congress high command
The Karnataka Chief Minister said he has been summoned to New Delhi for a meeting with the Congress leadership on Tuesday at 11 am. He added that he did not know what would be discussed, even as the new political uproar continued in the state.
“I am invited to Delhi. Tomorrow there is a meeting by 11 am. I don’t know the topic. But I am invited. Last night, KC Venugopal (secretary general of AICC) called me and informed me about the date and the meeting,” he told reporters when asked about his visit to Delhi.
When asked about speculation about his meeting with the party leadership, he said: “He is always there.”
Meanwhile, Shivakumar told reporters: “If I am summoned (by the high command), I will go.”
BJP attacks Congress over conflict
Speaking at the BJP state headquarters, Jagannath Bhavan, spoke about the ongoing debate within the Karnataka Congress over leadership sharing arrangements after the government completed three years in power.
“Kharge is instigating a fight between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar like two cats, while behaving like a monkey in Delhi,” Agrawal said, as mentioned in an earlier HT report. “Karg is waiting for them to fight so he can get a chance to become prime minister. There are no two sides of a prime minister here. There are three people.”
He further claimed that Congress was in a weak position. “Many Congress members are in touch with us. Even if the Assembly elections are held tomorrow, people will defeat the Congress and give the BJP a chance to form the government,” he said.
Notably, Shivakumar’s supporters are demanding his appointment as chief minister, citing the power-sharing arrangement reached when the party came to power in the 2023 Assembly elections.
With input from agencies
