DKS cites 'secret deal' as K'taka CM row heats up

Karnataka's deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar said everything there was to say on the ongoing power struggle in state, without really saying anything when he admitted, during a visit to his constituency Kanakpura on Tuesday, that there was a "secret deal" between "five-six" Congressmen on CM's post but that he did not want to "speak publicly on it".

- Arun Dev

DK Shivakumar

His comments, came on the same day CM Siddaramaiah asked the Congress' central leadership to "take a decision" so as to "end the confusion".

Ever since the Congress won the Karnataka election in March 2023, there has been buzz of an agreement between Siddaramiah and Shivakumar, blessed by the party's central leadership, on a power transfer after two-andhalf-years.

Talk of this agreement has intensified in recent months with the CM speaking of a reshuffle, but insisting that he would remain in charge, and supporters of the deputy CM pushing his cause.