New Delhi: Following the continuing tussle between Karnataka Siddaramaiah and his deputy D.K. Shivakumar, the two leaders met on Tuesday (December 2) when the CM visited Shivakumar’s residence for breakfast. After breakfast, both the leaders asserted that they along with the entire party stands united.

Siddaramaiah said that there are no differences between him and his Shivakumar, and even asserted that both are running the government unitedly like “brothers”, and will continue to do so in the future too, reported Press Trust of India.

The meeting comes at a time when the ruling Congress party in the state is grappling with an open power tussle between its two tallest leaders –Siddaramaiah and D.K. Shivakumar. What was once a whispered factional rivalry earlier has now burst into full public view, with the main point of the debate being a reported promised tenure sharing formula between the two leaders agreed upon during government formation in 2023.

Reiterating that both of them will abide by the decision of the Congress high command on the leadership issue, he said Shivakumar will become the CM when the high command decides.

In an apparent display of unity, Siddaramaiah on Tuesday visited Shivakumar’s residence for breakfast, just days after the two broke bread in the wake of a raging power tussle. Following breakfast, both leaders asserted that they and the entire party were united, reported PTI.

“This understanding will always be there. There are no differences. D K Shivakumar and I are united; we run the government unitedly. In the future also we will run the government unitedly,” Siddaramaiah told reporters here after the breakfast meeting.

“If they (high command) call us, we will definitely go and meet them. Tomorrow, I will be meeting AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal at a function, where both of us are invited,” said Siddaramaiah on Tuesday after the breakfast.

Asked when Shivakumar will become the CM, Siddaramaiah said, “When the high command says.” Siddaramaiah added that after the breakfast, he and Shivakumar discussed regarding the upcoming legislature session starting from December 8 at Belagavi and the strategy to be adopted.

Regarding the cabinet reshuffle, Siddaramaiah said, the high command has to take a decision on it.

“We are always brothers, we are in one party and believe in the same ideology. We will work together. In 2028 (Assembly polls) too we will work together and bring Congress back to power,” the chief minister added.

While Shivakumar did not speak much, he said that all Congress MLAs are united and there are no differences.

In recent weeks, the tussle between the two leaders has spilled beyond routine political chatter. Supporters of both the leaders have engaged in a war of words across social and mainstream media. Even a group of MLAs aligned with Shivakumar travelled to Delhi, to show strength and pressurise the party high command, signalling the depth of the rift.

The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.