Amidst Karnataka leadership tussle, Shivakumar issues cryptic social media post, says ‘word power is world power’

Though Siddaramaiah has maintained in the past that he will remain the CM for the full term, he recently put the onus on the Congress high command to clear the air about the issue.

“Keeping one’s word is the greatest strength in the world,” Shivakumar said in his post on X.

Attached to it were a black-and-white image of Shivakumar talking to media persons and a quote. “Word power is world power. The biggest force in the world was to keep one’s word. Be it a judge, president or anyone else including myself, everyone has to walk the talk. Word power is world power.”

The remarks on social media by Shivakumar seemed to imply the existence of an agreement between the two.

Shivakumar had said recently that whatever consensus the party leadership arrived at in May 2023, when he had staked a claim to be CM, was “a secret between five to six people”. “I don’t want to disclose it,” he said.

With Siddaramaiah completing two and a half years in power earlier this month, speculations have intensified over the issue. A group of MLAs supporting Shivakumar had travelled to Delhi recently seeking clarity on when the transfer of power would take place.

Shivakumar had also met the state Public Works Department Minister, Satish Jarkiholi, late Tuesday, which was seen as an attempt to gain support for his claim to the CM post. Jarkiholi, a political heavyweight and a Siddaramaiah loyalist, said after the meeting that Siddaramaiah remained their leader.

On Wednesday, AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge told reporters in Delhi that he would convene a meeting with party leaders Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Siddaramaiah, and Shivakumar to address the situation.

Shivakumar said he would hold a discussion with Siddaramaiah, and travel to Delhi when summoned.

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