Shivakumar’s Delhi visit rekindles leadership buzz in Karnataka Congress

The brief visit of Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar to New Delhi on Sunday has once again stirred political speculation in the state, with discussions resurfacing about a possible leadership change in Karnataka after the ongoing Budget Session of the legislature.

According to party and official sources, Shivakumar travelled to the national capital along with Mallikarjun Kharge , president of the Indian National Congress , from Kalaburagi on Sunday evening. Earlier in the day, both leaders had jointly attended a programme in Chittapur where development projects worth ₹1,069 crore were launched.

Shivakumar’s official schedule states that the Delhi trip was meant for attending a private engagement , and he was expected to return to Bengaluru on Monday morning. However, the visit quickly triggered political buzz in Karnataka, where speculation about a possible change in leadership has been circulating within Congress circles.

Party sources indicated that during his stay in Delhi, Shivakumar was likely to interact with senior Congress leaders and members of the party high command to discuss political developments in Karnataka, though no formal announcement of specific meetings was made.

As of now, no detailed press conference or public media interaction by Shivakumar in Delhi has been officially reported regarding the leadership issue. His visit has largely been described as routine, even as political observers continue to read deeper meaning into it.

The speculation comes against the backdrop of comments made by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah , who recently said he could continue in office and present two more state budgets if the Congress leadership gives him the opportunity. On Friday, Siddaramaiah presented his record 17th Budget as Karnataka’s finance minister, reinforcing his administrative position.

Meanwhile, reports suggest that a few legislators loyal to Shivakumar may travel to Delhi after the Budget Session to request the party leadership to consider him for the chief minister’s post. The current legislative session is scheduled to conclude on March 27 , a timeline that has added fuel to the ongoing political speculation.

Adding to the political atmosphere, Shivakumar is also set to host a dinner for ministers, Congress MLAs and MLCs on March 10 , marking six years of his tenure as president of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) .

For now, the Congress leadership has made no official indication of any change in Karnataka’s leadership. Yet, in the state’s politically alert circles, even routine visits to Delhi often revive debates over power equations and the future leadership of the government.