Cong no to leadership change in Karnataka, Siddaramaiah stays

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has again survived what appeared an internal rebellion, seeking his replacement in Karnataka, with top Congress leaders on Tuesday junking talks of leadership change.

AICC general secretary in charge of Karnataka Randeep Surjewala categorically ruled out any talks of leadership change and said he had been meeting MLAs and MPs of the state to understand the work done by them in their respective constituencies.

“Some of you asked me if we have an opinion on leadership change. The answer is a clear ‘no’ in one word,” Surjewala said in a press conference flanked by Deputy Chief Minister and Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar, whose loyalists had vocally demanded that he be elevated as the Chief Minister.

Surjewala said he would meet all state Congress MLAs in the next eight days.

Later, Shivakumar said there was no discussion on leadership change and urged strengthening the hands of CM Siddaramaiah.

Shivakumar directed party leaders and MLAs not to speak to the press on the leadership change issue.He even issued a show-cause notice to Ramanagara MLA HA Iqbal Hussain, who has been going public demanding Shivakumar’s elevation as the Chief Minister .

India