DK Shivakumar Occupies CM’s Suite at Karnataka Bhavan Amid Speculation Over Political Ambitions

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has occupied the Chief Minister’s suite at the newly inaugurated Karnataka Bhavan in New Delhi, drawing attention amid ongoing speculation about a possible leadership change in the state Congress unit.

While the move does not indicate an official shift in post, the optics of the Deputy Chief Minister settling into a suite designated for the Chief Minister has sparked political chatter, especially in light of Shivakumar’s known ambition to lead the state.

Suite Initially Allotted to Siddaramaiah

Sources revealed that the fifth-floor suite in question was originally allotted to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. However, due to ventilation problems, he had not been using the facility.

Sensing an opportunity, Shivakumar formally wrote to Siddaramaiah on July 7 requesting the use of the vacant suite. Siddaramaiah approved the request and forwarded it to the Protocol Division.

On Wednesday, while Shivakumar met with journalists and party workers from his new accommodation, Siddaramaiah, having arrived in Delhi the same day, chose to stay in the older CM suite located in the adjacent Annexe building.

Congress Denies Leadership Change

Despite the unusual arrangement, the Congress has dismissed any talk of a leadership shift in Karnataka. The party maintains that there is no confusion over state leadership.

However, Shivakumar’s move has not gone unnoticed, especially as he has previously expressed interest in eventually assuming the top post in the state.

The move into the CM’s suite may be officially about lodging logistics, but political observers see it as symbolically significant in the larger context of intra-party dynamics.

Political Chatter Intensifies in Delhi

Shivakumar arrived in the national capital on Tuesday and took up residence in the CM’s suite on the fifth floor of the new Karnataka Bhavan in Chanakyapuri. This floor is exclusively reserved for the Chief Minister’s accommodation.

He also held meetings with Congress leaders and supporters from this suite. Meanwhile, Siddaramaiah opted for the older CM suite in the Annexe, which he had previously used during his last visit to Delhi.

He had reportedly raised concerns about poor ventilation in the new building.

Earlier, Shivakumar used to stay on the third floor of the Annexe building during his visits to the capital.

Upcoming Meetings with Party Leadership

Both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar are in Delhi to meet senior party leaders.

They are expected to meet Congress General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal on Thursday. Shivakumar is also scheduled to meet Rahul Gandhi later in the evening.

While the Congress has consistently denied any imminent change in Karnataka’s leadership, talk of a rotational chief minister arrangement has been ongoing since the 2023 elections, when the party came to power in the state.

Siddaramaiah Maintains He Will Complete Full Term

Siddaramaiah has publicly stated that he intends to complete his full five-year term as Chief Minister.

Despite the speculation, he has dismissed the idea of stepping down mid-term, though discussions around a rotational leadership formula continue to circulate.

Shivakumar Responds to Speculation

When questioned about occupying the Chief Minister’s suite, Shivakumar told reporters, “The Chief Minister’s post is not vacant and there is no need to discuss such issues now.”

He emphasized that the move should not be read into beyond the practical reasons for using a vacant suite.

Shivakumar added that Congress leader Randeep Surjewala, who is in charge of Karnataka affairs, had recently held meetings with several party MLAs to gauge political sentiment.

A joint meeting involving both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar is expected to be held soon to discuss ongoing developments in the state, although Shivakumar declined to reveal specific details.