Congress High Command Will Decide on CM Change, Says Kharge
AICC Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday made it clear that is in the hands of high command” to initiate a change in Chief Minister in Karnataka
Bengaluru: Expressing his displeasure over Congress MLAs issuing various statements on the change of the Chief Minister in Karnataka after September, All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday made it clear that the high command will take a call on the change of guard in the state.
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Kharge said, “Nobody can say from here (Bengaluru), what is going (to happen) at the high command level.” The Congress president was commenting on speculation that Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar would replace Siddaramaiah as the Chief Minister after September.
The speculation triggered a couple of days back after cooperation minister K.N. Rajanna, who is considered close to Shivakumar, said that “a lot of political developments are expected after September.”
Reacting to Rajanna’s statement, Siddaramaiah’s confidante and Ramanagar MLA Iqbal Hussain said, “Changes in the political arena do happen naturally. The high command will decide on the suitable/right person to occupy the chair (Chief Minister).”
Kharge also said that the Congress in-charge for Karnataka and AICC general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala is in Bengaluru to hold meetings with the party MLAs. “He will submit his report and apprise the high command of his meetings with the MLAs. Based on his report, the high command will initiate further actions.”
On the replacement of the Chief Minister, the AICC president said, “This issue is left to the high command. The high command has got powers to initiate further actions… One should not create problems/confusions.”
“I will not comment on varying statements given by MLAs/leaders.. I will answer only at the AICC level. If I go on answering all statements, it will be impossible to find answers for much more important questions,” Kharge stated.
In Mysuru, Siddaramaiah said he shares a good rapport with Shivakumar and both the leaders will not give attention to the speculation.
