Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], July 3 (ANI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has reaffirmed his support for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, stating that he will follow the decisions made by his party and leadership, keeping in mind the goal of winning the 2028 state assembly elections.

Speaking to mediapersons a day earlier on his 'What option do I have? I have to stand by him and support him. I don't have any objection to it...' statement for Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar said, 'I have to go by my party. My party is important. My leadership's decision is important. We have an aim to bring 2028 (state assembly elections), we will work for that.'

His remarks came amid ongoing speculations about internal rifts within the Karnataka Congress unit. Shivakumar had earlier expressed on his support for Siddaramaiah, saying, 'What option do I have? I have to stand by him and support him. I don't have any objection to it...'

Soon after his comment the Karnataka Chief Minister dismissed the BJP's claims of internal rift in the State government, terming the allegations as 'lies' and reaffirming that his government would complete the full five-year term.

Siddaramaiah said, 'What the BJP says is only lies. You (media) only don't believe what they say. They're known for lies. They don't know how to speak the truth. Doesn't matter whether they believe it or not, we are all together.'

'Our government will remain for five years like a rock, as I told you in Mysore. BJP people are daydreaming,' he said.

He also clarified that the state cabinet meeting held in Bengaluru was part of a series of divisional meetings across Karnataka. 'We did cabinet meetings in the western region. Today, we are holding one in the Bengaluru division. After some days, we will hold a meeting in the Belagavi division also. We are also discussing holding a meeting at Vijayapura,' he said. (ANI)