DKS to meet Kharge amid KPCC chief debate

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Deputy Chief Minister and Karnataka Congress Chief DK Shivakumar confirmed that he would be paying a visit to New Delhi on Tuesday. However, he tried to downplay the visit, insisting that the primary purpose of his visit was attending to the Karnataka government’s administrative work and a meeting was scheduled with Union Jalashakti Minister CR Patil.

He added that he would speak with All India Congress Committee (AICC) leaders like party national president Mallikarjun Kharge later only if they had the time. The statement comes in the backdrop of his earlier remarks hinting that he would remain the KPCC president for the 2028 Assembly elections. There has been a push by the camp of CM Siddaramaiah to replace Shivakumar as party state president, a post he has held since 2020. Shivakumar and co on the other hand want him to be elevated to the CM’s post late this year as was the “agreement” with the Congress high command.

Asked about if he will lead the party in 2028, he chose to be reticent. “It is my duty to further the interests of the party regardless of what post I occupy. Mere posts don’t take the party forward. What becomes of me is not important. We become leaders because the party empowered us,” he said.