KARWAR, India — Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar directly appealed to his backers Sunday to halt public chatter on the state’s leadership tussle. Speaking to reporters here, the KPCC president said any statements from his camp would only complicate matters.

“I request all my supporters to keep quiet,” Shivakumar stated. “They should not make any statement about the leadership change in Karnataka. If leaders like Iqbal Hussein, Ravi Ganiga, Shivaganga Basavaraju keep their mouths shut, it will be good for me.”

His comments came amid swirling rumors about a possible shift at the top of the state government. Shivakumar addressed speculation tied to recent trips by ministers and party legislators to New Delhi. He claimed no knowledge of their agenda.

“The visit may be for work related to their departments,” he told journalists. “All of those who visited Delhi are our own people. Let us see what the trips are for and what are their implications.”

The remarks responded to questions about whether the group sought assurances on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s continuation in office. Shivakumar offered no further details, sticking to a wait-and-see stance.

He was in Karwar, a coastal town in Uttara Kannada district, alongside Siddaramaiah. The two leaders inaugurated a multi-speciality hospital and several other development projects. The event drew local crowds and highlighted ongoing infrastructure pushes by the Congress government.

Shivakumar’s plea highlights deepening tensions within Karnataka Congress ranks. The party has faced internal friction since coming to power in May 2023. Siddaramaiah, 82, leads as chief minister, with Shivakumar as his deputy and state party chief.

Recent Delhi visits by figures like Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda and others fueled talk of high-level consultations with national leadership. Party insiders point to power-sharing formulas discussed during the 2023 government formation. Shivakumar, a key architect of Congress’s poll win, has long been seen as a contender for the top job.

Officials in Bengaluru downplayed the trips as routine. Yet Shivakumar’s public call for silence suggests unease over loose talk eroding party unity. Karnataka faces assembly bypolls and local elections soon, adding pressure to maintain cohesion.

The deputy chief minister reiterated loyalty to the party’s high command. He avoided criticizing colleagues directly, framing his appeal as personal advice. “It will be good for me,” he repeated, hinting at his own stakes in the equation.

Karwar’s event proceeded smoothly despite the media scrum. Siddaramaiah focused on the hospital’s 200-bed capacity and advanced facilities for coastal residents. He praised Shivakumar’s organizational role without touching politics.

Analysts view Shivakumar’s intervention as an attempt to cool tempers. Leadership speculation has simmered for months, with factions openly backing either Siddaramaiah or Shivakumar. The high command has repeatedly urged discipline.

No immediate response came from the named leaders. Iqbal Hussein, a Shivakumar loyalist and MLC, stayed silent Sunday. Ravi Ganiga and Shivaganga Basavaraju, both MLAs, also held back.

Karnataka Congress enters a delicate phase. With national elections looming in 2029, internal rifts could weaken its southern stronghold. Shivakumar’s words signal his intent to handle the storm quietly—for now.