Bengaluru: Chief minister DK Shivakumar called on his predecessor Siddaramaiah at his residence and sought his blessings and guidance, a move that comes in the wake of the former CM’s month-long silence sparking speculation within Congress.At the breakfast meeting, Shivakumar was accompanied by his wife Usha and brother DK Suresh and comes exactly a month after he assumed office. The move was seen within the party as an attempt to reinforce unity, while Siddaramaiah continues to maintain a low political profile.Curiosity has grown over Siddaramaiah’s silence since stepping down with senior Congress functionaries saying they are still unsure what it means. Party functionaries say Siddaramaiah had privately told confidants that he was deeply disappointed over not being acknowledged for his role in certain projects after leaving office.“For instance, at the inauguration of the Tungabhadra dam crest gates, CMs of three states were present but not a single word was said on Siddaramaiah’s contribution to the project,” said a Congress legislator. “Similarly, his contribution to building SM Krishna Road was forgotten with Shivakumar hogging the limelight during its inauguration. As finance minister, Siddaramaiah had made specific allocations for the project.”But a senior Congress functionary said Siddaramaiah remains central to the party’s future — especially the 2028 assembly elections and the 2029 Lok Sabha polls — and that every effort is being made to keep him engaged. They pointed to Friday’s meeting at Cauvery, the official chief minister’s residence that Siddaramaiah continues to occupy, as a reflection of his enduring importance.“Unlike many other former CMs from Karnataka who migrated to national politics and faded away, Siddaramaiah took the smart route to remain an indispensable force in state politics,” a functionary said.Political analyst Harish Ramaswamy said Siddaramaiah’s silence should not be interpreted as political manoeuvring. “Having been in the public glare for so long in his career, Siddaramaiah appears to be taking a break to reconnect with family and friends. He has always been true to his ideology, and I believe he will remain firm to it,” Ramaswamy said.
