Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Nov 29: Chief minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday said that both he and deputy chief minister (DyCM) D K Shivakumar had decided to abide by whatever the Congress high command instructs.
Speaking at a joint press conference after a breakfast meeting with Shivakumar, the chief minister said, “We have decided to listen to whatever the high command tells us. We will proceed according to their directions.”
He added that the high command had asked both leaders to clarify any misunderstanding ahead of the Assembly session. “There will be no confusion from tomorrow. Even now, there is no confusion, but some media houses are creating it,” he said.
Siddaramaiah remarked that some MLAs may have gone to Delhi requesting ministerial positions. He noted that the 2028 Assembly elections and upcoming local body elections are very important for the party. “We discussed these matters and decided to work together just as we did during the 2023 elections. There is no disagreement or confusion between us,” he said.
The chief minister stated that the Legislature Session will begin in Belagavi on December 8. “We will strongly counter the opposition there. Spreading false allegations, false propaganda, and accusations is the tactic of the BJP and JD(S). We will face it together and have already planned our strategy,” he said.
He also responded to the BJP’s statement that it would move a no-confidence motion. “We have 140 MLAs. BJP has only 64 and JD(S) has 18. Together they have only 82. Whatever false accusations they make, we will counter them effectively,” he added.
Laughing, he said their breakfast meeting had no political discussion. “Breakfast was good. We spoke nothing there—just breakfast,” he joked.
Siddaramaiah clarified that AICC general secretary K C Venugopal had earlier instructed A S Ponnanna to invite Shivakumar for breakfast. “Venugopal called both of us. DK invited him to his home. I told him he should come to ours, so we decided to have it here,” Siddaramaiah said.
DyCM D K Shivakumar said that both leaders had agreed to abide by the directions of the high command. “There are no groups within the party. Our only group is the Congress group. We will work together, strengthen the MLAs, and strengthen the party,” he said.
He added that they had formulated a counter-strategy to face the opposition during the Belagavi session.
Earlier that morning, following the high command’s instructions to resolve leadership-related misunderstandings through discussion, Shivakumar arrived at the Chief Minister’s residence, ‘Cauvery’, in the morning. Siddaramaiah welcomed him warmly. No ministers, MLAs, or close aides were allowed during the meeting, which lasted for about 45 minutes.
The Congress high command had intervened recently to resolve confusion surrounding leadership change and power-sharing within the state government.
Meanwhile, sources said that on Friday night, D K Shivakumar held a separate meeting at a city resort with his close MLAs, including H C Balakrishna and Ranganath.