Amid swirling rumours of a possible leadership change in Karnataka, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar triggered fresh political speculation on Saturday with a seemingly light-hearted yet loaded remark about power and opportunity.
Speaking at a Kempegowda Jayanti event organised by the Bengaluru Advocates Association, Shivakumar said, “We keep fighting for the chair. You (lawyers) are sitting away, saying you don’t want any chair. Come and sit here. Getting the chair is difficult. You should learn to sit on it the moment you get it. Opportunities are rare — use them when you get them.”
While the audience laughed at the remark, the political undercurrent wasn’t lost on observers. Coming at a time when whispers of a power tussle with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah have resurfaced, Shivakumar’s statement is being seen as a subtle signal about his ambition and readiness to step in if the opportunity arises.
Just days earlier, Siddaramaiah himself sought to put an end to the speculation after meeting Congress general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala in Delhi. “Surjewala has clearly said there is no change in leadership. When he has confirmed this, there should be no further speculation,” Siddaramaiah told reporters on Thursday.
Shivakumar, who also returned from Delhi recently, chose not to add to the political chatter. “The Chief Minister has already spoken on the matter. There’s no need for me to repeat it,” he told the media.
Despite the public denial of any leadership shift, internal dynamics within the Congress’s Karnataka unit remain under close watch. Last month, in a show of unity, both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar appeared side by side and declared that their relationship was solid. “We are both on good terms, no matter who says what,” Siddaramaiah had said.
