Bengaluru, Sep 11 (Reporter) As the Congress grapples with a leadership tussle in Karnataka, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar’s meeting with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Washington DC has sparked fresh speculation about the party's future leadership. The meeting, which took place during Shivakumar’s personal visit to the US, comes at a critical moment when the Congress is struggling to keep its Karnataka unit together amid rising ambitions and allegations of corruption. Sharing photos of the meeting, Shivakumar posted a message on social media platform X, "Wonderful catching up with Leader of Opposition Sh. @RahulGandhi, in Washington D.C., along with my wife Usha." The seemingly casual meeting has fueled political speculation back home, as some party insiders see it as a calculated move by Shivakumar to bolster his position amid the ongoing turmoil within the Congress ranks. The alleged discord within the Karnataka Congress has been escalating, with key factions jostling for power amid growing uncertainty surrounding Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s leadership. The situation has been further complicated by the controversy over the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam and the High Court's ongoing hearing of Siddaramaiah’s petition challenging the Governor’s sanction for his prosecution. These legal troubles have intensified the infighting, with several Congress leaders rumoured to be eyeing the Chief Minister's chair, should Siddaramaiah’s position become untenable. Rahul Gandhi's decision to meet Shivakumar in the US is being seen by some as an endorsement of the latter's growing influence within the party — a signal that Shivakumar could be positioning himself as a key player in any potential leadership shake-up. The meeting has raised eyebrows within the party, with speculation mounting that Rahul Gandhi may be quietly weighing his options amid the leadership tussle in Karnataka...////...