New Delhi, Dec 3 (NationPress) Amid ongoing leadership disputes, Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister and State Congress President D.K. Shivakumar stated on Wednesday that he had no plans to meet the party's high command during his stay in Delhi.

“Our leaders are currently engaged with the Parliament session. I do not wish to inconvenience them at this moment. I plan to return to Bengaluru tomorrow morning,” Shivakumar told reporters in New Delhi.

When questioned regarding the reason for his visit, he remarked, “I am here to attend a wedding. Additionally, we have decided to mobilize 10,000 supporters from Karnataka for a protest rally on December 14. As party president, it is my duty to manage the arrangements.”

Regarding the upcoming Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting on December 8, he noted, “I have directed my team to prepare all necessary documents. We must present our perspectives; otherwise, the meeting might be postponed. We have been allotted six months to prepare a presentation for them.”

When asked about the discussions held during his breakfast meeting with the Chief Minister, he replied, “We addressed several issues focused on advancing Karnataka and party organizational matters.”

It's worth mentioning that pro-Shivakumar chants erupted upon the arrival of K.C. Venugopal, creating an awkward situation for him at Mangaluru International Airport earlier on Wednesday.

A significant number of supporters, led by local leaders, began chanting slogans after Siddaramaiah exited the airport, receiving state honors from the district administration. In response to the chants in favor of Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah's supporters also chanted slogans supporting him, adding to the party's embarrassment.

Defending the slogans from his supporters who called for him to become Karnataka's Chief Minister in the presence of Venugopal, Shivakumar expressed that these chants have been ongoing for the past decade and should be viewed in a “sporting spirit,” noting that “in politics, there will always be slogans both for and against us.”

Addressing inquiries about the chants in his favor before Venugopal, Deputy CM Shivakumar stated, “The ‘DK, DK’ chants have been prevalent for over a decade. There is nothing inappropriate about it. Some individuals chant in support of Modi, others for me or Rahul, or even Siddaramaiah. It’s simply a demonstration of love and admiration. We should embrace it in a sporting manner.”

“Supporters express their admiration through slogans. In politics, we encounter both favorable and unfavorable chants. We should not be overly concerned,” he added.

According to his official itinerary, Shivakumar is scheduled to participate in a wedding at Hotel Le Meridien and will remain in Delhi overnight. He plans to depart Delhi at 8 a.m. on Thursday, arriving in Bengaluru at 10:55 a.m.

Sources indicate that Shivakumar may have informal discussions with national leaders during the wedding about the ongoing leadership disputes in Karnataka. He is also expected to meet with Rahul Gandhi and Randeep Singh Surjewala during his stay.