New Delhi: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar has been unable to secure a meeting with senior Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, during his visit to the national capital, as the latter remains engaged with other commitments. Party sources said that Shivakumar’s request for an appointment is yet to be confirmed, and he is now likely to return to Bengaluru on Monday.
Shivakumar arrived in New Delhi on Friday primarily to attend to party-related matters concerning the upcoming elections in Assam, where he has been appointed as an observer by the Congress high command. He extended his stay in the capital in the hope of meeting Rahul Gandhi to discuss key political issues, including the leadership dynamics in Karnataka, but the meeting has not materialised so far.
Visit linked to Assam elections
The Deputy Chief Minister’s visit to Delhi was officially linked to preparations for the forthcoming Assembly elections in Assam. As the president of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), Shivakumar has been entrusted with organisational responsibilities in the north-eastern State, a role that involves coordination with local leaders and central party functionaries.
Congress sources said Shivakumar held a series of informal discussions with party leaders during his stay, focusing on election preparedness, organisational strengthening and mobilisation strategies. However, his keen interest in meeting Rahul Gandhi has drawn political attention, given the ongoing speculation surrounding leadership arrangements in Karnataka.
Unconfirmed appointment with Rahul Gandhi
According to Congress insiders, Shivakumar sought an appointment with Rahul Gandhi to discuss what is widely believed to be the issue of leadership in the State government. There have been persistent rumours of a power-sharing arrangement between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, although senior party leaders have publicly maintained that no such timeline has been finalised.
Despite repeated attempts, Rahul Gandhi’s office has not yet confirmed a meeting, citing the former Congress president’s packed schedule. This has resulted in Shivakumar prolonging his stay in Delhi, even as his official engagements concluded over the weekend.
Travel to Bidar and return to Delhi
On Saturday, Shivakumar briefly travelled to Bidar to attend the funeral of senior Congress leader Bheemanna Khandre. After paying his respects, he returned to New Delhi the same day, indicating his continued expectation of a meeting with the party’s central leadership.
Party sources said this back-and-forth travel underscored the importance Shivakumar attached to the Delhi visit, particularly amid heightened political speculation in Karnataka.
Participation in party meetings
On Sunday, the Deputy Chief Minister attended an online meeting from Karnataka Bhavan in New Delhi. The meeting, convened by senior Congress leaders, focused on finalising the party’s strategy for protests against VB G-RAM-G, a campaign the party is planning to intensify in the coming weeks.
Sources said the meeting involved leaders from multiple States and aimed at coordinating protest programmes, messaging and public outreach. Shivakumar’s participation was described as part of his role in national-level party activities.
Meeting with Mallikarjun Kharge
During his stay in the capital, Shivakumar met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday. The two leaders are understood to have discussed a range of issues, including organisational matters, State politics and upcoming electoral challenges.
While details of the meeting were not officially disclosed, it is believed that Karnataka politics featured prominently in the discussions, given the strategic importance of the State to the Congress following its return to power in 2023.
Leadership speculation in Karnataka
Shivakumar’s attempts to meet Rahul Gandhi have once again fuelled speculation about leadership changes in Karnataka. Political observers note that the Deputy Chief Minister is seen as a strong contender for the chief ministerial post and is often mentioned in connection with an alleged power-sharing understanding within the party.
However, senior Congress leaders, including Kharge, have previously sought to downplay such speculation. Recently, Kharge had said that the party would “call Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar when necessary,” indicating that leadership decisions rest solely with the high command.
Cancellation of Davos visit
Amid these political engagements, Shivakumar has cancelled his proposed visit to Davos for the World Economic Forum meeting. Sources said the decision was taken in view of pressing political responsibilities and developments back home.
The cancellation is seen as another indication of Shivakumar’s focus on domestic political matters at a time when the Congress is navigating both organisational challenges and internal expectations.
Parallel political meetings
Separately, Housing Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan met Congress general secretary and party in-charge for Karnataka, Randeep Surjewala, at Kaithal in Haryana on Sunday. Zameer’s office said the meeting focused on political developments in Karnataka, though no further details were shared.
The meeting has added to speculation about increased consultations between Karnataka leaders and the central leadership, even as the party maintains a public stance of stability in the State government.
Shivakumar responds to media queries
Reacting cautiously to media questions, Shivakumar refrained from elaborating on his attempts to meet Rahul Gandhi. “Like other politicians, I also do politics. We do try to meet the party’s top leaders and seek appointments. I don’t want to talk to the media about these meetings. Time will answer all the questions,” he said.
Conclusion
As Shivakumar prepares to return to Bengaluru without meeting Rahul Gandhi, his Delhi visit has nonetheless drawn attention to the evolving political equations within the Congress. While the party leadership continues to project unity and stability, the developments underline the ongoing consultations and expectations that shape decision-making at the highest level. Whether and when Shivakumar’s sought-after meeting with Rahul Gandhi will take place remains to be seen.