Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar signal unity after second breakfast meet in a week: 'Will always be brothers'

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday visited Shivakumar's residence for breakfast.

After visiting his deputy Shivakumar's residence for a breakfast meeting on Tuesday, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said they are "brothers from the same party and share the same ideology".

"Shivakumar came to my place for breakfast, and he invited me to come for breakfast or lunch at his house. So, he suggested coming on Tuesday. So I came today, and we had breakfast. We discussed party-related matters. More importantly, the Assembly session is starting next Monday. They said they will bring a no-confidence motion. BJP and JD(S) are planning to oppose whatever decisions we take. Our government is pro-farmer. We also discussed issues related to maize and sugarcane. I have spoken to the farmers, and the government has decided the price. I have also spoken to farmers, poultry farmers and fishery farmers..." the CM told the media after the meeting.

The back-to-back meetings are widely interpreted as the Congress leadership’s attempt to put the succession debate on hold and signal Siddaramaiah’s continuation as Chief Minister, at least for now, ahead of the Belagavi legislature session beginning December 8.

Speculation about a possible change of guard grew after the Congress government crossed the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20, reviving talk of a supposed power-sharing pact from 2023.