Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah Joins Jarkiholi For Dinner, Spotlight Turns On Congress Power Equations

Belagavi : A dinner involving Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and a handful of senior Congress leaders in Belagavi on Thursday night has once again put the spotlight on informal political gatherings amid speculation over the State’s leadership dynamics.

The dinner, organised at Siddaramaiah’s trusted aide and Minister Satish Jarkiholi’s residence in Kuvempu Nagar was attended by a handful of leaders. Apart from the Chief Minister, Ministers BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan, HC Mahadevappa, G Parameshwara and Sudhakar were present, along with MLA AS Ponnanna and MLC Nazeer.

Ponnanna, who attended the dinner, asserted that there were no discussions related to politics.

“I was there and there was no political discussion. The Chief Minister arrived late. Due to his health issue he only had soup and left early, as he had to prepare for his reply in the House,” Ponnanna told reporters on Friday.

He maintained that there was no deliberation on AHINDA, government affairs or any political strategy. “There was no discussion either on politics or on the government. However there was stress on taking measures to strengthen the party after the winter session,” he added.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Friday brushed aside speculation surrounding the dinner meeting, saying there was nothing unusual about leaders coming together for a meal.

“Can anyone really say no to people having a meal together? Why should all this matter? What is wrong with people coming together and having a meal?” Shivakumar said while responding to media queries on the dinner hosted by Jarkiholi.

He urged the media not to read too much into such gatherings.

When reporters pointed out that only four or five people had reportedly attended the dinner, Shivakumar countered, asking why it should concern him and why such questions were being directed at him.

In the two weeks since the beginning of session in Belagavi on December 8, several such dinner meetings hosted by supporters of both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar have taken place, triggering speculation in political circles. The timing of these gatherings has raised eyebrows, coming amid persistent buzz over a possible change of guard in the State leadership.

The issue gained further traction after the Chief Minister’s son claimed that the party high command had decided against any leadership change at present.