On October 11, 2025, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar publicly denied statements attributed to him by certain media outlets, which suggested he claimed “the time had come” for him to assume the Chief Minister’s role. Mr. Shivakumar clarified that during a public interaction at Lal Bagh, citizens had expressed this sentiment, not he himself, and accused media houses of twisting his words to create controversy. He asserted that he was “in no hurry” to become Chief Minister and indicated he would pursue defamation action against those who misrepresent his statements. This denial comes amidst ongoing speculation regarding leadership in the state, given Mr. Shivakumar’s known aspiration for the top post and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s supporters’ claims that he will serve a full five-year term. Further adding to the political discourse, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah reportedly held a closed-door meeting on October 9 with Home Minister G. Parameshwara, Social Welfare Minister H.C. Mahadevappa, and Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi, a gathering perceived by some as a strategic move in response to alleged efforts to push for leadership change.
Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/dk-shivakumar-loses-cool-over-time-has-come-to-be-cm-statement-being-attributed-to-him/article70151278.ece