NEW DELHI: Amid mounting speculation over a possible leadership change in Karnataka, deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar is scheduled to attend a breakfast meeting convened by chief minister Siddaramaiah at the CM’s official residence, Kaveri, in Bengaluru on Thursday at 9 am. The meeting comes a day after intense discussions in Delhi between the Karnataka leadership and the Congress high command fuelled buzz over a potential transition in the state’s top post.According to party sources, Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar separately met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, KC Venugopal and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Surjewala for more than six hours on Tuesday.Sources told TOI that Rahul Gandhi is learnt to have asked Siddaramaiah to consider taking up a national role in the party and respond within a week. The Congress leadership is also believed to have discussed a possible Rajya Sabha berth for the Karnataka CM as part of a leadership transition plan.Speaking to reporters after the meetings in Delhi, KC Venugopal dismissed reports of a leadership change and said discussions were limited to the upcoming Rajya Sabha and legislative council elections. He termed the reports as “speculation”.Party insiders, however, said Siddaramaiah conveyed that he had no ambitions in national politics, though Rahul Gandhi was keen on bringing the veteran OBC leader into the national fold to strengthen the party organisation.The latest developments are being seen as a major breakthrough for Shivakumar, who has long maintained that a rotational chief ministerial arrangement had been promised to him when the Congress formed the government in Karnataka after the 2023 assembly elections.Sources also said Siddaramaiah sought time to consult loyalists before taking a final decision. Discussions are expected to continue in Bengaluru following his return from Delhi.The Congress leadership is learnt to be working towards a negotiated transition to avoid internal instability similar to the crisis witnessed in Rajasthan during the party’s previous regime.
