Delhi's silence fuels unrest in Karnataka Congress

The Congress high command may prefer silence, but in Karnataka, it’s the quiet moves that are speaking loudest. DK Shivakumar’s recent closed-door meeting with Priyanka Gandhi at Sonia Gandhi's residence has set off a fresh round of political speculation, not just because of who he met, but also because of who didn’t meet him.

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Sonia Gandhi's choice to avoid Shivakumar, despite hosting the meeting under her roof, wasn’t just a scheduling coincidence. In politics, silence often carries intent.

This meeting came amidst reports that both Shivakumar and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah are eager to meet Rahul Gandhi. But Rahul's refusal, or reluctance, to grant them time has only added to the intrigue. If everything is truly settled in the Karnataka Congress, as both leaders publicly claim, why this sudden need to knock on doors in Delhi?

The contradiction is telling. Siddaramaiah has emphatically stated that he will serve the full five-year term as Chief Minister. Shivakumar, for his part, has echoed the same message “There is no vacancy.” Yet their actions suggest otherwise. Secret meetings, anxious outreach to Delhi, and radio silence from the Gandhis, this isn’t the choreography of a party in harmony.

Adding fuel to the speculation is Shivakumar's stay at the newly built Karnataka Bhavan in Delhi, in the suite officially designated for the Chief Minister. Though he claimed he had Siddaramaiah’s permission and denied any political motive, the symbolism was hard to ignore. For a leader fighting the perception of being the "CM-in-waiting," occupying the CM's suite, however briefly, is a statement, whether intended or not.