"No vacancy for CM post": Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah dismisses leadership change in state

New Delhi [India], July 10 (ANI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday dismissed any leadership change in the state government, saying that there was no discussion in the Congress regarding the change of the chief minister's post. He added that his deputy, DK Shivakumar, himself noted that there is no vacancy for the CM post.
"No discussion took place (on CM position), that is my reply. DK Shivakumar himself said that there is no vacancy for the CM post...Whatever decision is taken by the high command, both of us will follow; we will obey it," Siddaramaiah told reporters when asked about the possibility of a change of guard in the government.
Asked about the purpose of AICC in-charge of Karnataka, Randeep Surjewala, conducting one-on-one meetings with MLAs, the Chief Minister asked the reporters to pose the question to the former himself.
"Surjewala clearly said that there is no discussion about leadership change at all. He clearly said there is no discussion related to leadership change. When did he himself clarify why there should be speculations? It's all discussed only in the media, not at the party level at all," Siddaramaiah said.
"I sought an appointment to meet Rahul Gandhi today. So far, no information," he added.
Siddaramaiah's remarks come amid persistent rumours that the Congress high command could push for a rotational leadership formula, handing over the reins to Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar midway through the term.
Earlier this month, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar attempted to cap speculations on a possible leadership change in the State, including the removal of Chief Minister Siddaramiah, asserting that his priority remains to help partymen win the Assembly elections.
"There is no change of leadership. I don't want anyone's support. My priority is for them (the party legislators) to win back the assembly elections," Shivakumar had told ANI.
Reiterating that Congress General Secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Surjewala's meeting with party MLAs was not on the subject of changing leadership in Karnataka, the Deputy Chief Minister clarified that there were no groups in Congress and everyone stood united. He said that Congress would instead focus on the upcoming elections in the state.
"I don't want any recommendation from party legislators. My duty is to keep the party alive and give more strength to the discipline of the party. We have to concentrate on local body elections and the 2028 assembly elections...This exercise is not for a change. I am not for a change. There are no groups in the Congress party, we are united," Shivakumar had said. (ANI)