Amidst the Karnataka power change rumors, DK Shivakumar meets with Sonia and Rahul Gandhi.

During his meeting with senior Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in Delhi on Thursday, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar sparked new rumors about the southern state’s ongoing power swap craze.

According to congressional insiders, leaders discussed the potential for a change of power during the “positive” meeting. The specifics of the discussions are still unknown, though.

When the Congress government hit the halfway point of its five-year tenure on November 20, 2025, speculation about a potential change in Karnataka’s chief minister intensified. The commotion is a result of a purported power-sharing agreement between Shivakumar and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah during the 2023 government formation.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Shivakumar downplayed suggestions of internal discord. “There is no tussle. All discussions have been held between us,” he said.

Emphasising party unity, he said, “The party has a vision and a goal. The party’s success is more important. Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi will take a call when they feel it is time.”

Striking a philosophical note, Shivakumar added, “Patience will also pay a lot of measures. More age, more colour.”

The Deputy Chief Minister demanded earlier this week that Congress leaders strictly follow Kharge’s order to abstain from public remarks regarding the leadership contest, cautioning that doing so would only cause misunderstanding and harm the party’s reputation.