KARNATAKA LEADERSHIP TUSSLE DEEPENS AMID PARLEYS

Factional statements, dinner meetings, and opposition attacks keep leadership issue alive in Karnataka Congress amid Belagavi Winter Assembly Session

- BELLIE THOMAS

The 'leadership tussle' amid the factional divide within the ruling Congress in Karnataka is continuing to take shape during the ongoing Winter Assembly Session in Belagavi district.

Despite two 'breakfast diplomacy' meetings—one held at the Chief Minister's official residence, Krishna, in Bengaluru following a nudge from the Congress High Command to resolve the growing dispute between the Chief Minister and his deputy, D.K. Shivakumar, and another at Shivakumar's residence in Sadashivanagar with the Chief Minister—the tussle between the two stalwart leaders appears to be intensifying, with calls growing louder during the Belagavi Winter Assembly Session.

The issue gained momentum following strong rumours that the Deputy Chief Minister had hosted a dinner meeting with over 50 Congress legislators in Belagavi a couple of days ago. The meeting was dubbed a display of Shivakumar's strength within the party organisation. Reacting to this, the Dy CM and State Congress President, D.K. Shivakumar, said, "I am not displaying any strength, nor do I need to."