In what appears to be a show of grandeur, some Congress leaders and members of the Karnataka Cabinet were found having breakfast in silver wares at the residence of Congress leader D K Shivakumar on Thursday morning.
According to reports, in a show extravagance, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister Dr G Parameshwara, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) working president Eshwar Khandre, senior Congress leader R V Deshpande and other leaders were present at the Crescent road residence of D K Shivakumar and enjoyed their breakfast in silverware.
U T Khader, Housing and Development Minister in Karnataka has tweeted about the meeting in which it can be seen that Congress leaders are being served breakfast in Silver plates including bowls and tumblers.
https://twitter.com/utkhader/status/1047838102293639168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
The Karnataka Water resource minister had organised a breakfast meeting at his residence ahead of the second round cabinet expansion which is scheduled to happen on October 15. Interestingly, former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, KPCC president Dinesh Gundu Rao and Ramesh Jarkiholi, who was in news recently for engaging in a power-battle with D K Shivakumar were absent from the meeting, raising suspicion of internal rifts within the party.
D K Shivakumar spoke to the media, said that he is not sidelining Siddaramaiah. “Siddaramaiah cannot be invited for all meetings. He will be invited when it is required. But this doesn’t mean that he is being sidelined. Today’s breakfast meeting was organised as per his advice”, said Shivakumar.
D K Shivakumar, one of the strongest leaders of the state has been facing investigations by ED for his alleged involvement in money laundering through hawala networks. He is alleged to have involved in the transportation of illegal funds from Chandni Chowk to the Congress headquarters at Akbar Road in New Delhi. He was in news earlier for hosting Congress MLAs in the Eagleton resort which he reportedly owns. He is considered one of the richest politicians in the state. Before the assembly elections, he had declared assets worth Rs 800 crores.