In the political landscape of Karnataka, a significant event unfolded on Thursday night as Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar hosted a dinner meeting attended by over 30 Congress legislators and ministers in Belagavi on Thursday.
The gathering, which included key figures such as K H Muniyappa, Mankal Vaidya, Dr M C Sudhakar, and several other MLAs including N A Haris and Ramesh Bandisiddegowda, took place amidst ongoing speculations about potential leadership changes within the state government.
Notable absentees from the Congress side included expelled BJP MLAs ST Somashekhar and Shivaram Hebbar who were reportedly present at the meeting. The dinner gathering, while not an unprecedented event in political circles, has sparked further interest given the current political climate in Karnataka.
The meeting’s details remain undisclosed as of now, with sources refraining from commenting on the nature and purpose of the gathering. However, the timing and the attendance of key Congress leaders have fueled speculations about possible changes within the state government.
DCM DK Shivakumar dismissed claims that he had hosted a dinner meeting for his faction of MLAs and ministers, saying the reports were “completely incorrect.” Speaking to TV9 Kannada in Belagavi, he said, “I did not organise any dinner meeting. It was not hosted by me. A senior Congress leader who has been inviting me for the last 15 years had arranged it.”
Shivakumar further clarified that several MLAs had also extended dinner invitations. “Even Asif Seth and Firoz Seth had invited me, and many people invite me regularly,” he said. Reiterating his stand, he added, “The gathering was not arranged by me, and there is no question of any faction-based dinner politics.”
