Amid ongoing discussions about leadership change and power sharing within the ruling Congress party in Karnataka, Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress President DK Shivakumar on Wednesday said there are no differences within the party and whatever statements are being made on this matter have no importance.

“Who said there are differences?”

Shivakumar made it clear that there are no differences between him and the party leadership i.e. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the high command. Amid the 'dinner politics' in the state unit of the Congress, he tried to deny any kind of differences in the party. He said, "You may have differences, but there are no differences between us. Who said there are differences? There are no differences."

Why are there discussions about change of power? 

His statement came after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah recently organised a dinner with select Dalit and Scheduled Tribe cabinet colleagues, after which speculations about power sharing had intensified. The question of power-sharing or appointing Chief Ministers on a rotational basis has started gaining momentum in Karnataka. Discussions are being held about the change of power in the state after March.

"No statement holds any weight"

Amid these discussions, Shivakumar made it clear that there are no differences in the Congress party and only those statements have importance which are given by the party high command and the Chief Minister. He said, "No statement, nothing. No statement has any importance. What I say here as the party president and what the Chief Minister or the high command says, only that matters."