Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President DK Shivakumar met Congress MLA KN Rajanna for the second time in two days, amid ongoing discussions within the party over leadership and future strategy.
Sources said the meeting, held at a private place, lasted nearly two hours. They said several issues were discussed, including power transfer, future party affairs, and the apex cooperative bank chairman post.
The meeting has drawn attention as Rajanna is considered a close aide of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and had earlier opposed any power transfer.
Rajanna, the Madhugiri MLA and a former Cooperation Minister, was sacked from the Cabinet after the Congress high command instructed Siddaramaiah to remove him for his “vote theft” remarks related to the Special Intensive Revision, which embarrassed the party and its leader Rahul Gandhi. Rajanna’s supporters had earlier blamed Shivakumar for what they alleged was a conspiracy behind his removal.
Confirming the meeting, Shivakumar told reporters it was cordial. “Rajanna is our MLA. He was a minister with us. I met him and will meet him in future as well. Yesterday, I couldn’t meet him. He said he will meet me after a programme in the Governor House,” he said.
Asked about the reason for the meeting, the Deputy Chief Minister said, “He was in the government. He might have given some statement. I don’t feel bad about it. I never fought with anyone. I never gave any statement against anyone. Take out any record. I only respond to the opposition’s charges. I never comment on anyone on my own.”
Responding to questions on Rajanna being close to Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar said, “Do you know how close I am with Rajanna? He was not even related to Siddaramaiah when I made him District Apex Cooperative Bank chairman during SM Krishna government. The CM was in Janata Dal (Secular) and I was in Congress. I made him apex bank chairman. Ask Rajanna. He will tell you.”
He added, “Now that you are saying he is close to the Chief Minister, he is close to me as well. The Chief Minister and I are also closely associated. We are working like brothers.”
Rajanna, for his part, said Shivakumar met him in his capacity as party president. “Shivakumar is our party president. He can come and meet me whenever he wants. He can summon anyone or he can meet anyone. He will do whatever is in the best interest of the party. There is no politics involved in it,” he said.
Asked about his past opposition to Shivakumar, Rajanna said, “There is no change in the stand.” On the series of meetings being linked to leadership ambitions, he said, “Even if anyone makes efforts, the final decision rests with the party high command.”
He reiterated his support for the Chief Minister, saying, “I am always in favour of Siddaramaiah irrespective of his efforts. I stand by my statement.”
The meeting comes amid a continuing power tussle within the Karnataka Congress, even as both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar have publicly projected unity, including through their recent “breakfast diplomacy” at the insistence of the party high command.
With this latest meeting, Shivakumar has been covering significant political ground as he works to consolidate his position within the party.
In recent days, he has met senior Congress leaders KJ George, Satish Jarkiholi on two occasions, Zameer Ahmed Khan, and now Rajanna, all considered part of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s core circle.
– Ends
Published On:
Dec 22, 2025
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