Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar visited Delhi in early July 2025 to hold meetings with Union Ministers Bhupender Yadav (Forest and Climate Change) and C.R. Patil (Jal Shakti) regarding Karnataka's irrigation projects, including the Upper Bhadra, Meketadu, and Krishna reservoir projects. Shivakumar also met legal experts and officials from the Water Resources Department to discuss these issues. The visit occurred amid speculation about a leadership change in Karnataka, with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expected to visit Delhi shortly after. Both leaders met with Congress MP and AICC Karnataka In-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala and were reported to likely meet Rahul Gandhi in Delhi. After their Delhi engagements, Siddaramaiah returned to Bengaluru and led the All India Congress Committee (AICC) Other Backwards Classes (OBC) advisory council meeting held at the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee headquarters and a private hotel. The meeting focused on the position and consolidation of OBC communities, which constitute over 90% of the population. The AICC OBC Advisory Committee, under Siddaramaiah's leadership, passed the Bengaluru declaration. Siddaramaiah expressed gratitude to Rahul Gandhi for his initiative supporting marginalized and backward classes. Congress leaders including Ashok Gehlot, Narayanasamy, and Bhupesh Baghel participated, with Baghel announcing a follow-up meeting scheduled for July 25 in Delhi, to be attended by Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge. The BJP Karnataka state president B.Y. Vijayendra criticized the AICC OBC panel's agenda, suggesting it was not focused on the upliftment of OBC, SC, or ST communities.