Karnataka: CM, Dy CM pledge unity, say they will honour high command’s wishes over leadership issue

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Dy CM DK Shivakumar on Saturday displayed a public show of unity, pledging to work together and ending all confusion after a breakfast meeting at CM’s official residence in Bengaluru.

“Shivakumar and I have no differences. There won’t be any in future too,” Siddaramaiah said in a joint press conference with the Dy CM after the breakfast meeting.

The meeting, where the two leaders agreed to a ‘ceasefire’ came about on the wishes of the AICC leadership. AICC general secretary KC Venugopal asked both leaders to meet over breakfast and resolve differences.

“There would not be any confusion anymore. We will inform the high command about the agreement reached,” the CM said. His legal advisor AS Ponnanna also participated in the meeting.

The government was formed under Siddaramaiah’s leadership, and we are working as per the high command’s guidance, Shivakumar said. “We both share the same stand on the issue of leadership. We will go by the high command,” Shivakumar said, endorsing the CM. Their aim now was to strengthen the party and lead it to victory in the assembly polls in 2028 and LS polls in 2029, he added.

The CM said he will visit Shivakumar’s house one of these days and have lunch with him. The CM blamed the media for “causing confusion over power sharing.”On the reports that the Opposition BJP-JDS may move a no-confidence motion in the legislature session beginning at Belagavi on December 8, both leaders said the government would effectively deal if such a situation arose.DISPLAY OF PEACE

While both leaders on Sunday patted each other’s back and professed love and affection, sources say this seemed like a temporary truce as AICC does not want the Karnataka affairs to distract its attention at the time of the parliament session beginning Monday. It is to be seen how long the truce would last as there has apparently been no chance in the stand of both leaders.

Shivakumar, sources say, remains firm that he must succeed Siddaramaiah now as the party regime has completed half its term. He suggested as much when he recently spoke of a “secret” (deal) five-six top leaders were privy to, ahead of Siddaramaiah’s swearing-in event in May 2023.