New Delhi, Dec 15 (NationPress) Amid the ongoing leadership turmoil in the Karnataka Congress party, Deputy Chief Minister and the party's state President D.K. Shivakumar has confirmed that he will be holding separate discussions with the party's high command.

When asked about the possibility of individual meetings with Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, he remarked on Monday in Delhi, “All these matters will be addressed within the party.” When pressed on the importance of such meetings at this critical time, Shivakumar responded, “Don’t worry.”

He elaborated, “I need to have a discussion with AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, AICC General Secretary and MP K.C. Venugopal, and others. I had lunch with Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi just yesterday. I have met with all necessary parties.”

Shivakumar noted, “Mallikarjun Kharge ji and I need to travel together to Karnataka for the funeral of veteran Congress leader Shamanur Shivashankarappa. We were scheduled to depart from Delhi at 8 a.m., but our travel plans have been delayed due to cloud cover.”

In response to the notice from the Delhi Police regarding the National Herald case, Shivakumar stated, “Given the urgency surrounding the funeral of Congress leader Shamanur Shivashankarappa, I have been requesting a meeting time. I'm looking to schedule my appearance after the session concludes. I will also share my response with the media, as they have not provided a copy of the FIR with the notice. We have already submitted our response to the Enforcement Directorate. I am yet to receive the FIR contents and have only learned about them through media reports.”

“I will request a copy of the FIR, and I plan to come to Delhi next week after the winter Assembly session,” he added.

It's important to note that the leadership struggle between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar has resurfaced following comments from party MLA from Ramanagara, Iqbal Hussain, a strong Shivakumar supporter, who claimed that Shivakumar would take over as Chief Minister on January 6, 2026.

This assertion has stirred discussions in state political circles and within the ruling Congress party.

“The Chief Minister position should be transferred to Deputy CM Shivakumar. He deserves this chance. The high command is reportedly receptive to this suggestion. I am 99 percent confident this will happen,” Hussain declared.

In response to Hussain’s remarks, Shivakumar cautioned against taking his words seriously. “Legal action should be initiated against him. Iqbal Hussain frequently speaks out of turn. His statements should not be believed,” he stated.

However, Iqbal Hussain stood firm by his claim, asserting that Shivakumar is the State Congress president for all 140 legislators. He also indirectly criticized Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s son, Yathindra Siddaramaiah, who made a controversial comment suggesting that the high command had rejected Shivakumar's request to become Chief Minister, asserting that his father would serve the entire five-year term as CM.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, attempting to quell the situation, reiterated his commitment to the party high command’s decisions. The political landscape within the ruling Congress party remains uncertain.