DK Shivakumar says Delhi visit only on Congress high command's call, dodges CM query
Synopsis
Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar refused to answer questions about a possible elevation to Chief Minister — and his silence on his 64th birthday falling on May 15 spoke volumes. His insistence that a Delhi trip will happen only on the Congress high command's terms signals the leadership question in Karnataka remains very much open.
Key Takeaways
DK Shivakumar said he and CM Siddaramaiah will visit Delhi only when called by the Congress high command .
Shivakumar declined to respond to questions about "good news" linked to his 64th birthday on 15 May , amid speculation of a CM elevation .
He dismissed reports that an IPL match was shifted to Allahabad due to black-market ticket sales in Bengaluru, citing stadium capacity as a likely factor.
On BCCI issuing a statement over MLA ticket demands in Karnataka, Shivakumar said the party would "respond at an appropriate time." He confirmed that Congress MLC Abdul Jabbar's resignation had been submitted and accepted, and defended the removal of a Political Secretary to the CM as the Chief Minister's prerogative.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and State Congress President D.K. Shivakumar on Wednesday, 6 May said that he and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah would travel to Delhi only when summoned by the party leadership, firmly dismissing speculation over an imminent trip to the national capital. Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Shivakumar maintained that the high command would call them when required.
Point of View
He is publicly performing loyalty while keeping the CM ambition alive — a balancing act that has defined Karnataka Congress politics for over two years. The silence on his birthday question was the loudest moment of the press conference. The Congress leadership's delay in resolving the Karnataka succession question risks becoming a slow-burning distraction as the state government approaches its mid-term.
NationPress
7 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is DK Shivakumar's Delhi visit significant?
A joint visit by Deputy CM DK Shivakumar and CM Siddaramaiah to Delhi is widely seen as a potential precursor to a leadership transition in Karnataka. Shivakumar has clarified that such a visit will happen only on the Congress high command's invitation, not on their own initiative.
Is DK Shivakumar set to become Karnataka Chief Minister?
There is no official confirmation. Shivakumar declined to comment on speculation linking a possible CM elevation to his 64th birthday on 15 May 2025, walking away without responding when asked about expected "good news" around that date.
Why was an IPL match reportedly shifted from Bengaluru to Allahabad?
Reports alleged the match was moved due to black-market ticket sales in Bengaluru. Shivakumar dismissed this as baseless, suggesting that Allahabad's larger stadium capacity — accommodating around one lakh spectators — may have been the deciding logistical factor.
What did Shivakumar say about the BCCI statement on MLA ticket demands?
Shivakumar said the party would respond to the BCCI statement "at an appropriate time," without elaborating further on the allegations that Karnataka MLAs had demanded IPL match tickets.
What action was taken against Congress MLC Abdul Jabbar?
Shivakumar confirmed that Congress MLC Abdul Jabbar's resignation had been submitted and accepted. He also defended the removal of a Political Secretary to CM Siddaramaiah — widely understood to refer to MLC Naseer Ahmed — as falling within the Chief Minister's prerogative.
