Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar was seen having a brief but passionate one-on-one talk with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi at the Mysuru Airport on Tuesday, which caused a stir in Karnataka’s political circles. Just hours after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah officially downplayed any political motive underlying Gandhi’s visit, the meeting has sparked heated suspicion within the party.
As the Leader of the Opposition got ready to board a special jet to Delhi after returning from Gudalur in the Nilgiris area of Tamil Nadu, the exchange took place on the tarmac beneath a high-security blanket.
Helipad Huddle. DK Shivakumar's hush-hush chat with Rahul Gandhi at Mysuru Airport fuels wild leadership buzz. Perhaps dejavu for old-timers, will bring back memories of Rajiv Gandhi's airport whisper that axed Veerendra Patil as CM for "health" reasons in 1990. #Karnataka pic.twitter.com/Xk4AQ49bM4
— Harish Upadhya (@harishupadhya) January 13, 2026
Witnesses at the airport saw DK Shivakumar, who had been waiting at the helipad, avoid the customary queue of officials and dignitaries in order to get to Rahul Gandhi first as his helicopter touched down. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was at the airport to bid farewell to the high command leader, but he apparently stayed well away from the helipad, allowing Shivakumar and Gandhi to have a five-minute private conversation.
Fresh rumors of a power-sharing transfer have been sparked by the image of the two huddled away from the main group, especially given the ongoing internal strain surrounding the Chief Ministerial position.
The date of this “secret” meeting is especially noteworthy in light of the Chief Minister’s previous statements to the media, in which he stated there were no political conversations on the agenda and rejected any idea of a leadership change as a media fabrication.
The duration of the conversation was confirmed by people close to the Deputy Chief Minister, although they would not comment on the precise subjects covered. Political analysts see Shivakumar’s unexpected five-minute window in Mysuru as a crucial strategic move by the KPCC President to directly assert his position with the party’s central leadership, as he is scheduled to visit New Delhi on January 16 for meetings regarding the Assam elections.
After meeting Rahul Gandhi, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah spoke to the media in Mysuru, telling them that there is no conjecture and criticizing the media for spreading it. “You’re asking a pointless question. It’s only in the news; there’s no confusion within the party. DK Shivakumar or I should discuss it. But have we had a conversation? No, correct? We will obtain the information. In the end, we will follow the High Command’s decision.MLAs won’t have any knowledge. Would they learn anything from the High Command? No, confusion is being caused by the media. Nobody else. I went to DK Shivakumar’s house for breakfast, and he came to mine. After meeting Rahul Gandhi, he declared, “We both have decided to abide by whatever the High Command decides.”
