Full turnout likely for Shivakumar’s dinner today

Bengaluru: Almost all Congress legislators are expected to attend a dinner hosted by deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar on Tuesday, with party brass suggesting the gathering will serve as a display of unity during the ongoing budget session of the legislature and amid wrangling in the party.The dinner is to celebrate the milestone of Shivakumar completing six years as Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president. Invitations have been extended to all ministers, party MLAs and MLCs, including chief minister Siddaramaiah.
"There is no factionalism and all legislators are expected to attend since the KPCC president has personally invited us," said a legislator. In Delhi, Shivakumar said the dinner is meant to bring party legislators together and will be followed by similar meetings with other party members. "A date will be fixed for a dinner for candidates who lost (in 2023 and 2024 state and Lok Sabha elections) and district presidents of the party," he said. Shivakumar is in a tussle for the CM post and had made several trips to Delhi ostensibly to pressure the party high command to implement an alleged pact that he would take over as CM at the half-way stage of the govt's tenure.His latest visit to Delhi has triggered speculation on possible discussions with Congress' high command, but he declined to reveal details. "If I do not meet them, you (reporters) will say the high command refused to meet me. So, I won't disclose anything," he said. Sources say Shivakumar travelled to Delhi with party national president Mallikarjun Kharge from Kalaburagi on Sunday evening. They were both at an event to launch projects worth Rs 1,069 crore at Chittapur. At Karnataka Bhavan in Delhi, Shivakumar said he would meet senior party brass during his visit. He said his visit to the national capital followed a personal engagement in Pune. "There was a wedding at my friend's house in Pune. That is why I came to Delhi yesterday (Sunday)," he said.