Bengaluru, Feb. 13 -- Deputy chief minister and state Congress chief DK Shivakumar's series of meetings with senior party leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi and AICC chief Mallikarjun Kharge, in New Delhi has spurred fresh speculation about the state's leadership.

Shivakumar met Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi on Thursday for about half an hour, said people aware of the matter. He held separate discussions with Kharge and party general secretary KC Venugopal on Wednesday night, they added.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Shivakumar declined to reveal what was discussed. "We are politicians and we will discuss politics... I have not come here to enjoy Delhi weather," he said.

Pressed on whether the issue of leadership chan...