There is no CM post vacant in Karnataka, I am the Chief Minister: Siddaramaiah

New Delhi [India], July 10 (ANI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has dismissed the speculation about a change in the state's leadership, asserting that there has been no discussion on the change of the CM in the Congress circle.
Speaking at a media conference at Karnataka Bhavan, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah asserted that the issue of change of Chief Ministers is a creation of the media, and there is no room for speculation.
Replying to reporters regarding the handover of power of the Chief Ministers in the state, Siddaramaiah said that the State Congress in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala clearly stated that the purpose of meeting the MLAs in the state is not the issue of change of Chief Ministers.
"The state Congress in charge has dismissed the question of a change in the Chief Minister, saying that there is no room for speculation on this issue. These speculations are created by the media, and there has been no discussion on the change of the Chief Minister in the Congress circle.", CM said.
"The Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister have given a clear instruction that the party high command's decision on this issue should be agreed upon, and we have both stated many times that we will abide by the high command's decision. It is natural that the issue of transfer of power should arise when the government has been in power for two and a half years. But there is no agreement on this," he added.
Recently, after making it clear that 'I will continue as the CM for five years', Siddaramaiah questioned why such rumors are being spread in the media, and said that Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar himself had said that the post of Chief Minister is not vacant.
Reacting to some Congress MLAs expressing their opinion on the change of Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah said that some MLAs are expressing their personal opinions; this is not the decision of the party. "The speculation of the handover of power does not make any sense," he said.
Reacting to whether there is a possibility of meeting Rahul Gandhi, he said that there is no possibility of meeting Rahul Gandhi. Siddaramaiah said that he will meet State Congress in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala this evening and discuss the appointment of MLCs and Corporation Board Presidents.
CM Siddaramaiah said that both I and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar have reiterated that there is no CM post vacant in Karnataka. He said that I am the Chief Minister of Karnataka, adding that if DK Shivakumar or any of the MLAs have a desire to become the Chief Minister, there is nothing wrong with that.
Responding to a question that Congress supremo Rahul Gandhi is fighting a lot for the backward classes and Siddaramaiah is the only OBC CM among the states ruled by the Congress, he said that if someone or two say it, it is not like the high command has discussed it. (ANI)