BENGALURU, May 21 -- Interactions involving chief minister Siddaramaiah, deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, followed by reports of a gathering of ministers close to the chief minister in Bengaluru, set off a fresh round of speculation over the future leadership, even as Shivakumar dismissed the rumour, stating that the focus was on governance.

The developments came as the Congress government completed three years in office on Wednesday, reviving questions that have persisted since the party came to power in 2023 - whether Siddaramaiah will continue as chief minister for the full term or Shivakumar could eventually take over.

The buzz gathered momentum after discussions involving senior Congres...