Bengaluru: Just 24 hours before the commencement of the Congress party’s four-day brainstorming session with leaders in the state ahead of the 2018 polls, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday shifted focus to a change of guard in the state Congress unit and the appointment of a new KPCC president replacing incumbent, Dr G. Parameshwar.
Speaking to reporters after paying tribute to former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 26th death anniversary here, Siddaramaiah responded emphatically to a query on the subject saying central leaders will put an end to the speculation about a change of guard by the month-end.
“Although I do not have enough information on this, I strongly believe that the top brass will keep their word,” he said cryptically. After his statement, Congress circles were abuzz with speculation that Siddaramaiah might have convinced the leadership on the need to appoint a leader of his choice to the top post. “It is a known fact that Siddaramaiah was batting in favour of former IT/BT minister, S.R. Patil for the last two years.
Of late, the CM’s words are being taken seriously. It is not that he was ever ignored but there were times when his views were not considered. For instance, the induction of energy minister D.K. Shivakumar and urban development minister Roshan Baig after he had completed a year in office, (on the high command’s insistence), is a case in point. Siddaramaiah had deliberately not inducted them stating he wanted a ‘clean cabinet’ when he was sworn in as Chief Minister in 2013,” the source explained.
