Shivakumar's crucial weekend may open a new chapter for Karnataka Congress

Siddaramaiah's Budget vow and Shivakumar's cryptic remarks revive debate on a stalled power-sharing deal and set the stage for a fresh tussle in Bengaluru

Earlier this week, Karnataka politics saw a decisive turning point. Two remarks highlighted this. 

“When I first became finance minister, I was mocked that this Kuruba can’t even count sheep. I took that as a challenge and went on to present 16 Budgets,” Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said as he presented the state Budget earlier this week. He added: “I’ll present the 17th Budget, too.” The Congress leadership in the state tried to look carefully expressionless. 

Within days, his deputy and state Congress chief, D K Shivakumar, presented an enigma wrapped in a  mystery and