Amid the intensifying power struggle in Karnataka, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar held a crucial breakfast meeting at the CM's residence, 'Kaveri', on Saturday. The meeting, mandated by the Congress High Command, comes ahead of the winter assembly session in Belagavi starting December 8. While the leaders displayed camaraderie for the cameras, sources suggest the underlying tension over the 2.5-year power-sharing pact remains unresolved. Shivakumar is expected to travel to Delhi to meet Sonia Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge. Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy termed the developments as 'ultimate drama'.
00:00They're going to be deciding whether in the assembly session, the upcoming assembly session on December 8th, they're going to be moving a no conference motion against the government or not. Mind you, with this meeting, nothing, nothing comes to an end. You're going to continue seeing the fight for the CM throne because as far as DK Shiv Kumar and Sidramaya are concerned, this is a meeting where they're showing all is well to the high command.
00:23Their masters are doing it. They were at a government event yesterday. Both were sitting together. You'd never guess there was a crisis or there was any issue because of the warmth between them and the natural comfort that they have with each other. That's courtesy of the fact that they've been working together for so many years now.
00:41But on the sidelines of it, there is that heated tension over who will be the chief minister going forward. And that is not going to be resolved by the meeting that we're talking about happening behind me at the chief minister's residence.
00:54That's you to keep this aside and keep the high command's decision aside. This is them abiding by the high command's call to have a meeting, to sort it all out, to iron out all problems.
01:06Maybe we'll see those social media posts all about work being deleted as well. Maybe that will happen as a result of this particular breakfast meeting.
01:14But the pictures that we have show that Sidramaya and DK Shiv Kumar are pretty comfortable doing this.
01:19They have no problems listening to the high command's call of them coming together for a meeting.
01:23They've said let's ensure it's a working breakfast of sorts, which is what they're doing right now at the chief minister's residence.
01:29But after this also will be crucial to track Naga. DK Shiv Kumar headed to Delhi.
01:34Firstly, we'll have to see what's the outcome of this meeting. He said that he would be speaking to the media exclusively post the meeting.
01:41But nothing seems to be coming out of this meeting. There will be like a diplomatic answer that both of us will agree to whatever the high command decides.
01:49But immediately post the meeting, what we are told is he's likely to leave to Delhi to flex his muscles also, right?
01:55He's tried to meet Sonia Gandhi. He has sought an appointment with Sonia Gandhi already.
01:59And because today is 29th. Remember earlier on India Today itself, we had broken the news that we were the first one to get you that DCM had reached out to Sonia Gandhi's office seeking an appointment.
02:10We are yet to confirm if he has got an appointment.
02:12But he feels that it's better off to be in Delhi rather than be in Bengaluru asking an appointment.
02:17He's just one phone call away if he's in Delhi.
02:20So, he's likely to reach the national capital by this evening.
02:23And for the photo hop, he might meet the Mekedatu officials from lawyers also and these irrigation department officials to ensure that it doesn't look bad for the optics as well.
02:33So, he might have an official meeting.
02:35But on the back end, he will be trying to reach out to all the Gandhi family members as well as Mr. Karge.
02:40Because tomorrow is the crucial meet.
02:41Remember, 5 p.m. tomorrow is the parliamentary strategy group meeting of the Congress in AICC headquarter.
02:47So, this party meeting will have Malik Arjun Karge, Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi.
02:52Of course, this meet is for the parliamentary strategy.
02:55But what happens after that?
02:57What we are told is an informal meeting might end up taking place post this meeting where Karge, Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi might get into a huddle and discuss Karnataka dedicatedly.
03:06And then tell KC Vinagopal to officially summon these two leaders to the national capital.
03:12Okay, so that could just happen in the next 24 hours, in which case we are finally going to be seeing some movement taking place and perhaps some decision from the high command.
03:22It is a very hard one.
03:23There is no doubt about it.
03:24This is a catch-22 situation that the Congress high command finds themselves in.
03:28But that's what leadership is about, to have to take the hard decisions, stick by them and ensure that it doesn't translate to any bad blood between the two leaders.
03:36Maybe this is setting the stage for that, ensuring that even before the announcement is made, Sidra Maya and D.K. Shukwar sent across this message of solidarity.
03:45They have repeatedly said we will do what the high command wants.
03:47But the high command wants us to walk the talk on that and say that, look, even before we take a decision, send out a message that we both are okay with whatever happens.
03:56We both are united.
03:57There is no question of any sort of revolt or rebellion.
04:00Do not, however, rule that out.
04:02All this that's happening right now, this breakfast meeting, the candidness, the warmth between the two leaders is all for show for the cameras.
04:09What is the conversation that's happening when the cameras are switched off?
04:13That's what's crucial.
04:14What's happening between the two leaders when nobody else is in the room and they're enjoying their breakfast?
04:19That's what's crucial.
04:21And so that will decide what really happens based on the high command's decision.
04:25Once the high command comes out with their decision, whoever it is, will the other just sit by, allow it to happen?
04:31Will they watch quietly?
04:32Or will there be very clear all-out rebellion, revolt that rocks the Karnataka Congress?
04:38That's something that this meeting perhaps will tell, will decide.
04:41Sagai Raj is live with us for the latest updates.
04:45He's in a closer viewpoint of the Chief Minister's residence right now.
04:49And Sagai, you know that meeting now, about 30 minutes that has gone on.
04:53When the cameras are off, that's when the crucial discussion will take place.
04:57But Naga was also telling me earlier, Sagai, that as far as D.K. Shukwar strategy is concerned,
05:01he's kind of going to appeal to Chief Minister Sidramaya, saying,
05:04please, please let me have my turn as the Chief Minister now.
05:12Absolutely. Let us assume what they will talk.
05:14Let me tell what D.K. Shukwar will try to convey to Chief Minister and try to convince him.
05:18He will ask him, there was a pact between us.
05:20Please ensure that after two and a half years, you leave this post.
05:23Now it is high time that you need to give for me.
05:26I have very less time.
05:27I need to prepare for the next election.
05:28So I will also try to accommodate your ministers, your M.L.A.s in the cabinet.
05:34And probably what will be the response of Chief Sidramaya?
05:37Sidramaya will try to convince D.K. Shukwar, saying that,
05:40see, I'm going to break the record of Devaraj Arash in one and a half months.
05:43So let us go for cabinet reshuffle as of now.
05:46Let us discuss about this pact and power sharing,
05:51probably after the cabinet reshuffle, after this particular assembly session,
05:55and after he completes the record of Devaraj Arash and thereafter we'll talk to High Command
06:00and try to negotiate and we'll probably do whatever the High Command says.
06:05So as of now, allow me to complete the cabinet reshuffle and break the record of Devaraj Arash
06:11and after that we can discuss with High Command and try to negotiate.
06:15And maybe both of them will say that, let us stop here, let us listen to whatever the High Command says,
06:19let us take to the next level and come to a conclusion, whatever the High Command says, let us go according to them.
06:25Probably these might be the conversation, these are just an assumption that we are trying to do.
06:30So let us wait and watch what will be the outcome of the breakfast meeting.
06:32Okay, let us cut across to more breaking news that is coming in right now.
06:40Union Minister H.T. Kumandoswamy is in Bengaluru.
06:44He is lashed out at the Congress saying that what is happening right now within the Congress
06:48is hugely embarrassing for Karnataka.
06:51He is saying that this is not just a question of Congress because even in government,
06:55this is embarrassing for the whole state of Karnataka.
06:59The JDS, the BJP have been maintaining that as a result of all of this bickering,
07:04there is no governance, no administration that is actually happening in the state.
07:08Listen in to what H.T. Kumandoswamy said.
07:15Ultimate drama, final stage.
07:17I have not attended.
07:18If you want to get any information about breakfast in our house, then who can tell?
07:25Sir, the governance is taking a back seat, sir, because of all this time.
07:28I don't want to discuss all those things.
07:32Drama is going on.
07:33Ultimate drama, final stage, what will it become?
07:36We are eagerly waiting.
07:37I have not attended.
07:39If you want to get any information about breakfast in our house, then who can tell?
07:45Sir, the governance is taking a back seat, sir, because of all this time.
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