'A milk-honey relationship': CM Siddaramaiah on his bond with DK Shivakumar

BENGALURU: Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah has publicly dismissed speculation of a rift with his deputy, describing their ties as a “milk-honey relationship” and rejecting opposition claims of surveillance and internal discord. In a post on X, Siddaramaiah accused opposition leaders of attempting to sow divisions between him and deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar after the

Congress party

returned to power. “DK Shivakumar and mine is a milk-honey relationship. This time, after our party came to power, the unemployed opposition leaders have been trying to churn sourness into the relationship between DK Shivakumar and me, and let R. Ashok and HD Kumaraswamy know that this may empty the sourness-filled within them, but it will have no effect on our milk-and-honey-like relationship,” he wrote.

The remarks followed allegations by Union minister HD Kumaraswamy and leader of the opposition R Ashoka, who accused the chief minister of ordering phone tapping to monitor Shivakumar.Siddaramaiah dismissed the accusations as a “frustrated statement from restless souls”. He said the state Intelligence Department has traditionally functioned under the chief minister’s authority, including during previous governments led by the BJP and the JD(S).

He further alleged that the BJP and JD(S) were attempting to lure Shivakumar in a bid to destabilise the Congress administration. Calling his deputy a “staunch Congressman”, he said no amount of political manoeuvring or “daydreaming” by rivals would weaken their relationship or bring down the government. Speculation about a possible power-sharing dispute had intensified after the Congress government completed two-and-a-half years in office in November 2025.

Addressing those rumours, Siddaramaiah said the administration would complete its full five-year term under Congress leadership. He added that the party operates through internal democracy and that legislators abide by decisions taken by the high command. The chief minister also criticised PM Narendra Modi, accusing central agencies of being misused against opposition leaders. Concluding his remarks, Siddaramaiah called on the opposition to play a constructive role, saying the people of Karnataka had given Congress a clear mandate to govern for five years.