Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar met for a breakfast meeting on Saturday to quiet the growing talk about a possible change in leadership. The meeting, held at the CM’s official residence, Kaveri, was followed by a press conference filled with smiles and polite exchanges.
ಮಾನ್ಯ ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿಗಳಾದ ಶ್ರೀ ಸಿದ್ದರಾಮಯ್ಯ ಅವರನ್ನು ಇಂದು ಅವರ ಕಾವೇರಿ ನಿವಾಸದಲ್ಲಿ ಭೇಟಿಯಾಗಿ ಉಪಾಹಾರ ಸಭೆ ನಡೆಸಲಾಯಿತು.
— DK Shivakumar (@DKShivakumar) November 29, 2025
Met Hon’ble CM Shri @siddaramaiah avaru at Cauvery Residence this morning for a breakfast meeting. A productive discussion on Karnataka’s priorities and the road ahead. pic.twitter.com/qhe7q5RNvi
However, sources familiar with the discussion said the talks “hit a bit of an impasse”. Both leaders reportedly refused to budge from their positions.
According to insiders, Siddaramaiah told Shivakumar that he should take over as chief minister only after the next state election in 2028.
Background: Rumoured Power Sharing Deal
The friction between the two leaders dates back to an informal understanding—never publicly confirmed by the Congress—that Shivakumar would become chief minister after Siddaramaiah completed half his term.
The Congress government completed 2.5 years in office on November 20, and with that milestone, speculation about a leadership handover grew sharper.
Siddaramaiah, though, has repeatedly said he has a full five-year mandate. Shivakumar, on the other hand, has given indirect signals that he expects the party to honour what many believe was a 2023 promise.
The party high command intervened on Friday and instructed both leaders to sit down together and resolve the issue, leading to Saturday’s breakfast meeting.
A Display of Unity Before the Cameras
At the joint press conference, Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar presented a united front. They sat side by side and denied the presence of any internal conflict.
Siddaramaiah told reporters, “I had a breakfast meeting with Shivakumar because some unwanted confusion was created. It was created by the media… We don't have differences. Even today there are no differences; there won't be any in future as well. I will ensure that from now on it does not exist.”
He added that both leaders agreed to follow the party’s directions and would keep the leadership updated on whatever understanding they reach. “From tomorrow, there will be no confusion. Even now, none exists,” he said.
Shivakumar echoed the same message. He said, "We don't have factionalism… We will go together, take everyone along and abide by the party high command."
In a post on social media, he later called the meeting “productive” and said the discussion focused on “Karnataka’s priorities and the road ahead”.
Core Issue Still Unresolved
Even with the public show of unity, party sources said the main question—whether the Congress will implement a rotational chief minister system—remains open. The breakfast meeting lowered the political heat but did not resolve the leadership dispute.
The disagreement has been simmering for nearly two months. Meanwhile, the BJP is watching the situation closely and has warned it may introduce a no-confidence motion if Congress’s internal tensions continue.
CM Siddaramaiah responded by saying the party is prepared to face both the BJP and the JD(S) in the assembly.