Bengaluru, Dec 1 (NationPress) In response to inquiries about when he would extend an invitation to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for a breakfast discussion, Deputy Chief Minister and State Congress President D.K. Shivakumar emphasized that this is a personal matter between him and the Chief Minister. He highlighted that both leaders are collaborating like brothers and asserted that "there is no such thing as my group or Siddaramaiah’s group."

During a press briefing at Vidhana Soudha on Monday, Shivakumar remarked, "The breakfast meeting is purely a matter between me and the Chief Minister. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and I are working harmoniously together. The breakfast meeting was held mainly due to media pressure, as you (the media) have frequently suggested that there are factions within the party."

He further commented, "The media has been propagating that there are distinct factions belonging to CM Siddaramaiah, Dy CM Shivakumar, and other leaders. This is not the case. The breakfast meeting at the Chief Minister’s residence was strictly between us. There is no division into my group or Siddaramaiah’s group."

"All 140 MLAs support me. We enter this world alone and depart alone. However, I strive to unite everyone within the party. Thus, the media should not be overly concerned about this," he added.

Meanwhile, addressing the situation, BJP MLA Arvind Bellad, who also serves as the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, stated in Delhi that the state will see no benefits irrespective of who leads. He claimed that the administration has faltered and that corruption is widespread. "The choice of Chief Minister lies with their party. However, a change in the Chief Minister is inevitable," he asserted.

"There is rivalry among Siddaramaiah, Dy CM D.K. Shivakumar, Home Minister G. Parameshwara, and AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge. CM Siddaramaiah asserts he leads the Ahinda group, which includes minorities, backward classes, and Dalits. We would accept it if Siddaramaiah claimed to lead the Kuruba community, his own community. The Ahinda bloc consists of numerous groups such as Idiga, Madivala, Savita, Maratha, and Kambara communities, but no community has acknowledged Siddaramaiah as their leader," Bellad alleged.

"Siddaramaiah is pressuring the high command. No decision has yet been made regarding initiating a no-confidence motion against the Congress-led government during the Winter Session," he stated.

It's worth noting that Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar expressed last Saturday their commitment to unity. They declared, "Our collaboration will persist. We are united. There are no differences between us." The two leaders also pledged to "work together for the 2028 Assembly elections."

They made this declaration at a joint press conference held at the Chief Minister’s official residence, Cauvery, in Bengaluru, following their breakfast meeting earlier that day.

In addressing the media, CM Siddaramaiah said, "We operate in unison. There are no differences."

"Recently, confusion has arisen. Hence, we convened to deliberate. Our goal is to win the 2028 Assembly elections and the upcoming local body elections. We reviewed our strategy. Just as we collaborated during the 2023 Assembly elections, we will continue this united approach in the future. There are no differences now, nor will there be in the future. We will move forward as one," he stated.

When questioned about "keeping our promises," Siddaramaiah responded, "What is this ‘given word’? I have consistently said we will adhere to whatever the high command decides."

In response to inquiries regarding power-sharing, Siddaramaiah insisted, "We will comply with whatever the high command instructs us. Whether or not you comprehend it, we cannot answer every question posed to us."