"Cannot say openly who I will meet in Delhi": Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar

New Delhi [India], March 9 (ANI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Monday said he would meet Congress "high command" leaders in the national capital.
Responding to media queries at Karnataka Bhawan in the national capital, Shivakumar said, "I'll have to meet our high command leaders...I cannot say openly who I will meet in Delhi."
He said, "I will meet everyone... You (media) are reporting that even though DK went to Delhi, the leaders did not give time and are waiting, so I will wait."
He added that his trip to Delhi followed a personal engagement in Pune, where he attended a friend's wedding.
Earlier today, Shivakumar met the Assam Pradesh Congress President in Delhi.
"There was a wedding program at my friend's house in Pune. That is why I came to Delhi yesterday. Today I met the Assam Pradesh Congress President. There are many meetings today. There is a party joining programme at the Congress party office," he said.
The Deputy Chief Minister has also organised a dinner for all state MLAs and Legislative Council members for tomorrow to mark his completion of six years as Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President.
"Tomorrow I will complete six years as KPCC President, and in this context, I have organised a dinner for all the MLAs and Legislative Council members. Another day, a dinner will be organised for our defeated candidates and district and block Congress presidents. Now, in view of the ongoing session, I have organised a dinner for the MLAs."
When asked whether Shivakumar's visit to Delhi, even though it is a private event, means different discussions will take place, he said, "No different discussions. There's no need to speculate. There is a dinner tomorrow (Tuesday), and there is a Congress Legislature Party meeting the day after tomorrow."
When asked about the release of the list of 42 Congress candidates for the Assam elections, he said, "The list of 42 candidates has already been released, and today there is another screening committee meeting. I am not in this committee. My responsibilities are different."
The All India Congress Committee (AICC) last week announced its list of candidates for the upcoming Assam Legislative Assembly elections. A total of 42 candidates have been selected by the party's Central Election Committee to contest various constituencies across the state.
According to an official release, the list includes Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi (Jorhat), Bitupan Saikia (Golaghat), Satyabrat Kalita (Kamalpur), Ripun Bora (Barchalla), Mira Borthakur Goswami (Dispur), Diganta Barman (Barkhetri), Uptal Gogoi (Sonari), Ajoy Kumar Gogoi (Demow), Debabrata Saikia (Nazira), and Ashok Kumar Sarma (Nalbari).
The list features several candidates representing Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes constituencies. Several female leaders have also been fielded, including Nandita Das (Hajo-Sualkuchi SC), Pallabi Saikia Gogoi (Teok), and Suruchi Roy (Ram Krishana Nagar SC). (ANI)