Bengaluru, May 27 (PTI): Amid speculation about a change of chief minister, AICC General Secretary in charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala clarified on Wednesday that the Congress has not called a meeting of its legislature party in the state and no other decision has been taken yet.
He requested the media not to speculate on the issue.
Asserting that the party will make decisions not in favour of individuals but in favour of Karnataka, he said the Congress is capable of deciding its leadership matters and would inform the public whenever any decision is taken.
“Currently, no meeting of the legislature party has been called by the Congress party. No other decision has yet been taken. As things evolve, we will inform you. I cannot tell you what will happen after one month, 20 days, tomorrow, six months or one year—that is speculation,” Surjewala said.
Speaking to reporters, he said, “I am requesting you, with folded hands, not to indulge in speculation.”
His statement came amid intense speculation that Siddaramaiah will announce his resignation as CM in a couple of days, most likely on Thursday, to make way for his deputy D K Shivakumar.
The CM has sought time from the governor and is hosting a breakfast meeting with his cabinet colleagues on Thursday at his official residence.
This follows reports that the Congress high command asked Siddaramaiah to make way for a leadership change in the state, offering him a central role in the party, including a Rajya Sabha seat.
Siddaramaiah is said to have not accepted the offer immediately.
Surjewala said the Congress high command held detailed deliberations with the CM and Deputy CM on Tuesday regarding the ensuing elections to four Rajya Sabha seats and seven Legislative Council seats in Karnataka.
“Very detailed deliberations were held on the same, as stated by AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal on Tuesday. Various names were deliberated and discussed, and various suggestions were received. Some more suggestions are yet to come from Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar,” he said.
“Deliberations shall continue over the next couple of days with both of them and other senior party leaders on candidates and the candidature of sitting members,” Surjewala added.
Various political developments in the state were also deliberated upon, he said, adding that following those deliberations, many friends in the media “had been running all kinds of stories.”
The AICC General Secretary said Siddaramaiah is a very seasoned and respectable leader of the party, and as a former leader of the opposition and a two-time CM, he has contributed immensely to the Congress party.
He said Shivakumar is an organisational man who has risen from the Youth Congress to the Pradesh Congress Committee President. As a cabinet minister, he has served under multiple CMs and presently continues as deputy chief minister, a role he has held for the last three years.
“So my humble request is that whatever decisions the party takes in the coming days, I shall inform you,” he added.
On behalf of the Congress party and the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee, Surjewala also assured that any decision taken will be in the interest of the people of Karnataka.
“The only decision that Mallikarjun Kharge — AICC chief and himself a Kannadiga — and Rahul Gandhi, who has great love and affection for the people of Karnataka and has received it in abundance, will take will be not in favour of individuals, but in favour of Karnataka,” he added.
