In a reversal of his earlier decision, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar will now travel to Davos to attend the World Economic Forum, just a day after announcing that he would skip the event due to party and official commitments. He is scheduled to take a direct flight from Bengaluru to Zurich at 4:45 am on Tuesday.
This change of plan comes after Shivakumar had stated that he was cancelling his visit to the Swiss city because of pressing engagements in Delhi and Bengaluru. At the time, the announcement triggered speculation about political developments within the Karnataka leadership and whether all was well within the ruling establishment.
Shivakumar’s office had earlier confirmed the cancellation of the Davos visit, explaining that his schedule had been altered due to responsibilities connected to the Assam Assembly elections and internal party-related work in Karnataka. He was camping in Delhi following the cancellation and sought to downplay the political significance of his presence there.
Speaking to reporters at Karnataka Bhavan, Shivakumar urged caution against reading too much into his movements, saying that such political engagements were routine and should not be sensationalised. He maintained that party work and administrative responsibilities often require frequent travel and schedule adjustments.
An official statement from his office said that the Deputy Chief Minister had several meetings planned with senior AICC leaders regarding the upcoming Assam Assembly elections. It also noted that he was leading the campaign against the Union government over issues related to MGNREGA, which has prompted the Karnataka government to convene a five-day special session of the state Assembly beginning January 22.
His earlier decision to prioritise official and political duties over the Davos summit, scheduled from January 18, once again fuelled speculation about the stability and internal dynamics of Karnataka’s leadership. Observers also pointed to the timing of his continued presence in Delhi as adding to the intrigue.
The debate has gained renewed attention since the Congress-led government in Karnataka crossed the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20. This milestone revived discussions around the alleged power-sharing understanding between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar that was said to have been reached at the time of the government’s formation in 2023.
Recent meetings involving Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar have further intensified speculation, with political observers suggesting that the party’s high command is actively attempting to manage and resolve differences between the two leaders.
Party insiders and analysts have noted that the ongoing power-sharing discourse has created a degree of uncertainty within the state’s political landscape. The upcoming special session of the Karnataka Assembly, scheduled to begin on January 22, is expected to address not only key governance issues but also internal party matters that have been the subject of intense discussion.
