Siddaramaiah

Karnataka deserves respect, autonomy, and honest governance, and not high-command "theatrics", Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Assembly R Ashoka said.

The controversy centres on an eviction drive in the Kogilu Badavane area near Yelahanka, where residents were cleared from land that the government says is a waste dumping site.

The meeting comes in the midst of the leadership issue in the state, where Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar’s supporters are interested in seeing him as the next CM soon.

He questioned why the 'double-engine governments' are unable to match Karnataka's progress.

The power tussle within the ruling party has intensified amid speculations about a change in chief minister in the state, after the Congress government reached the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20

On Friday, Siddaramaiah said in the state Assembly that he would continue in office for his full term and rejected any power-sharing agreement.

“I am confident that the high command will allow me to complete five years’ term,” he said

The meeting is scheduled to take place after the Congress’s mega rally at Ramlila Maidan, being organised as part of the party’s ‘Vote Chor Gaddi Chhod’ campaign, which alleges collusion between the BJP and the Election Commission, people familiar with the matter said.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s Rs 43-lakh rose-gold Cartier Santos watch has sparked debate after a viral photo showed the socialist-leaning leader wearing an 18K luxury timepiece.

The breakfast soread had vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes, with Shivakumar’s wife preparing Mysuru-style nati koli saaru and nati koli fry for Siddaramaiah alongside idlis, pongal, vada and other vegetarian items.

Hosted the Hon’ble CM for breakfast at my residence today as we reaffirm our commitment to good governance and the continued development of our state under the Congress vision, says Shivakumar.

Amid the ongoing power tussle and speculation over leadership change in Karnataka, both leaders stuck to their positions during the meeting.

Following the initial meeting held as per the directive of the Congress high command, both leaders had publicly stated that “there won’t be any confusion”.

On Saturday, the two leaders had a breakfast meeting after which they put up a united front, denying any difference between them.

The Chief Minister also addressed speculation about a likely no-confidence motion against his government, claiming the opposition lacks the numbers to pose a threat.

Tensions have been simmering for months over an alleged rotational power-sharing arrangement, which Shivakumar claims promised him the chief minister’s post after two-and-a-half years.

This comes after the senior leadership of the party stepped in, as the rift widened in Karnataka, asking both Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar to meet over breakfast in a bid to resolve the crisis.

The Congress state president replied in the affirmative when asked if he would go to Delhi and meet the party high command, saying "Delhi is our temple."

On Thursday, DK Shivakumar had said that no one has called him to Delhi.