Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday announced that he had invited his deputy, DK Shivakumar, for a breakfast meeting on Saturday to “discuss everything,” in an effort to address the ongoing leadership crisis within the state Congress. The meeting comes after the Congress high command reportedly urged both senior leaders to hold direct talks and resolve the intensifying tension surrounding the state’s leadership.

“The high command has called D K Shivakumar. They had called me as well. They told both of us to meet and talk. So I invited him for breakfast. When he comes there, we will discuss everything,” Siddaramaiah told reporters.

The current situation stems from a long-simmering dispute over a purported “secret deal” within the Congress leadership following the party’s 2023 electoral victory in Karnataka. According to Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah had allegedly promised to relinquish the chief minister’s post to his deputy after completing two-and-a-half years in office. Siddaramaiah crossed this milestone on November 20, which fueled speculation and claims from Shivakumar’s supporters that it was now time for him to step down.

Earlier this week, the two leaders had exchanged cryptic remarks regarding promises and power, with Shivakumar making veiled references to the so-called agreement. In response, Siddaramaiah reinforced his position on social media, stating that “the mandate given by the people of Karnataka is not a moment, but a responsibility that lasts five full years,” affirming that he intended to serve a full term of five years as chief minister.

Despite this, Siddaramaiah maintained a cooperative tone on Friday, emphasizing that he would follow the guidance of the Congress high command. “I am saying the same now, and I will say the same tomorrow,” he added. He further noted that Shivakumar had also expressed his willingness to abide by the directions of the central leadership. “When the high command calls, I will go to Delhi,” Siddaramaiah said, highlighting his readiness to consult with the party’s national leadership.

Meanwhile, DK Shivakumar indicated that he would also travel to the national capital in view of the upcoming winter session of Parliament, beginning December 1. Speaking at a function marking the golden jubilee of the Anganwadi programme, where he shared the stage with Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar said, “I will definitely go to Delhi. It is our temple. Congress has a long history, and Delhi will always guide us. When they call me, the party leaders and the chief minister, we will go there.”

Shivakumar sought to project patience and emphasized that he was not seeking immediate power changes. “I don’t want anything. I am not in a hurry. My party will make a decision,” he said. The deputy chief minister also invoked the party’s historical approach to leadership transitions, citing examples from Congress history to reinforce the importance of consulting the high command in internal matters.

Shivakumar specifically referenced Sonia Gandhi’s tenure as Congress president and her decision to decline a prime ministerial role in favor of Manmohan Singh, highlighting that power-sharing and leadership decisions have traditionally been guided by consultation and party consensus. “When Sonia Gandhi ji made me the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President, we made a promise to the people that we have great faith in the youth and women. Based on that trust, we launched five guarantee schemes. In this manner, we prepared the blueprint of all these programmes,” he explained.

State Congress leaders have largely sought to project unity and calm, emphasizing that the party’s central leadership retains the capacity and authority to resolve the impasse. Priyank Kharge, the state IT, biotechnology, rural development, and Panchayati Raj minister, said that the high command possesses the “sense of timing” needed to address the escalating power tussle between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar.

“Nobody has given any official invitation or statement on the meeting in New Delhi. The chief minister and the deputy chief minister have said that they will go to Delhi if they are invited by the Congress president or All India Congress Committee general secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala. Let the invitation come from Delhi, then only it will be decided,” Kharge said, emphasizing that any resolution would be guided by the party’s central leadership rather than unilateral moves by the state leadership.

As the breakfast meeting approaches, party observers note that the engagement between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar could be critical in diffusing tensions that have threatened to overshadow the functioning of the Karnataka government. The meeting represents a direct, face-to-face opportunity for both leaders to clarify positions, reaffirm party unity, and potentially find common ground on the delicate question of power transition within the state Congress.

The ongoing saga reflects the complexities of internal party dynamics in Karnataka, where historic agreements and expectations intersect with electoral mandates, personal ambitions, and public perceptions. Both leaders have expressed deference to the high command, signaling that the resolution may ultimately hinge on the guidance of senior Congress figures in Delhi.

For now, the political focus remains on Saturday’s breakfast meeting, which is expected to be the first substantive dialogue between the chief minister and his deputy since the recent public exchange of statements. Observers suggest that the outcome could shape the leadership trajectory in Karnataka and influence broader state-level political alignments ahead of the next electoral cycle.

The Congress high command’s role will be pivotal in ensuring that any decision respects both party traditions and governance stability, balancing internal promises with public expectations. Both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar have indicated willingness to follow party directions, but the discussions at the breakfast table will be closely watched for signals regarding the future course of Karnataka’s political leadership.

In summary, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s invitation to Deputy CM DK Shivakumar for breakfast marks a critical step toward resolving a potentially destabilizing leadership dispute. With the Congress high command playing an active supervisory role, the meeting may pave the way for a negotiated understanding, reaffirm party cohesion, and maintain governance continuity in the state ahead of forthcoming political and administrative challenges.