BENGALURU: Days after Congress MLC Dr Yathindra rekindled the change of guard issue by stating that his father, Siddaramaiah, will remain the CM for the entire 5 years, Deputy CM DK Shivakumar will embark on a two-day visit to New Delhi on Tuesday. The DCM’s itinerary also features a meeting with the Congress high command leaders.
Interestingly, Shivakumar will be skipping a pre-budget meeting on water resources and Bengaluru development, the two portfolios that he holds. The CM will chair the meetings at 5pm on Tuesday.
According to informed sources, Shivakumar is likely to meet Wayanad MP and chief of the candidates’ selection committee for the Assam Assembly polls, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, in his capacity as one of the AICC observers for the polls.
Given his good equation with Priyanaka, Shivakumar may also touch upon the change in leadership issue with her, sources added. Shivakumar, who is also KPCC president is also likely to meet All-India Congress Committee president Mallikarjun Kharge.
“I will be meeting party leaders who have called me to Delhi. I will also meet the Union Jal Shakthi minister and legal counsels as well,” Shivakumar told reporters.
Asked if LoP in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, had called him to Delhi, Shivakumar said, “I can’t disclose names of all the people I will be meeting. Why are you so curious? I am not just the DCM but also the KPCC president. I will be completing six years as the KPCC chief on March 10, and it is my duty to meet party MPs and party leaders. I keep meeting my party leaders and share my difficulties, sorrows, joys, and aspirations,” Shivakumar maintained.
On skipping the pre-budget meetings, Shivakumar said, “I will seek the CM’s permission. The CM is also the chairman of the irrigation department, and officials are also participating. The CM knows more about irrigation than me. Officials will meet the CM on the Mekedatu balancing reservoir project.”