NEW DELHI: Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar on Wednesday landed in Delhi amid the ongoing tussle with Siddaramaiah over the top job in the state.However, he refuted reports that he is visiting Delhi to the Congress high command, saying that he is in the national capital to attend a wedding.”No political agenda. I have come here for my friend’s son’s wedding. Also, I wanted to make arrangements for the December 14 Vote Chori rally…We are expecting more than 10,000 people to come from Karnataka,” DKS said.”I just wanted to discuss with my colleagues and other friends as to what are the arrangements we can make. So, I have come here. As the party president (of Karnataka Congress), I have the responsibility of all these things. So, I have come here to do this. Then I will return early morning because I have a cabinet meet at 11 o’clock…No, I am not expected to meet anyone because all of them are busy with the Parliament…We have to take Karnataka forward together, work together, live together and bring back the party together,” he added.Meanwhile, on being asked about his deputy’s Delhi visit, chief minister Siddaramaiah said that he will only visit the national capital to meet top Congress leaders after being called by the party high command. “Let him go. I will go only if I receive a call. I have not received a call so far,” Siddaramaiah told reporters here.This comes as senior Congress leader KC Venugopal witnessed a display of internal party dynamics upon his arrival at Mangaluru Airport, with party workers chanting conflicting slogans in favour of Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah.As this happened, Karnataka Home Minister G Parmeshwara said he does not wish to comment further on recent political differences, stating that any minor issues have been resolved.Speaking to reporters, Parameshwar said, “I dont want to comment unnecessarily. It’s all over now. Whatever little difference was there, if it was there, has been resolved.”Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar had two breakfasts together within a week, but the deadlock over the Karnataka chief ministerial post does not seem likely to end soon.The outreach came after the Congress high command nudged both leaders to present a united front ahead of the Belagavi legislature session starting December 8.Earlier, as soon as the Congress government in Karnataka completed its halfway mark on November 20, reports quoting Congress sources suggested that MLAs and MLCs from Shivakumar’s faction had camped in Delhi to push the party high command to make him the next chief minister.DK Shivakumar added to the speculation after he claimed there had indeed been “a confidential understanding on leadership transition among five-six leaders” soon after Congress won a landslide in the 2023 elections.
