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Bengaluru, Nov 23 (IANS) Amid the leadership row within the ruling Congress, his visit to Delhi and contradictory statements, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah met Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge at his residence in Bengaluru and held discussions for about one-and-a-half hour.
He reiterated on Saturday that the decision of the Congress high command is final and both he and Deputy Chief Minister and state president DK Shivkumar will have to follow its orders.
The long meeting has intensified speculation in the political circles of the state.
Even though CM Siddaramaiah looked stressed, he answered the questions effectively without losing his cool.
He also commented that he would never be lazy or overly excited.
Speaking to the media late on Saturday night after meeting Kharge, CM Siddaramaiah initially said, “We talked about matters related to the party’s organisation. Taluk Panchayat, District Panchayat and Bengaluru civic body elections are round the corner. We discussed these issues. It was just a courtesy meeting as he had come to Bengaluru.”
Asked whether Kharge had asked him to remain CM for the next two-and-a-half years, Siddaramaiah replied, “Why are you asking everything? Everything is speculation, and it is you (media) who have fueled these speculations.”
Responding to the question whether Karnataka Congress MLAs met Kharge in Delhi and whether he tried to address their grievances, Siddaramaiah said, “I have not raised questions on it.”
When asked again why he, as the leader of the Congress Legislature Party, did not seek information, the Chief Minister said that he would collect information from the Intelligence Department.
“I have not sought information from him (Congress president Kharge), nor have I sought information from Karnataka Congress MLAs.”
Asked about the length of the meeting, Siddaramaiah insisted that it was merely a cordial conversation.
“I had breakfast at Kharge’s residence – onion pakodas and dry fruits,” he said.
When Siddaramaiah was asked that he was looking lazy about the CM post in Karnataka, he replied, “I will never be lazy. You ask why I am looking lazy just to say one thing. There is no question of me being lazy. Understand? I will not be lazy, and at the same time, I will not be overly excited.”
Responding to a question about Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar going to meet two Congress MLAs lodged in Bengaluru Central Jail, he said, “Let them go and meet them, there is no problem.”
“Ultimately, the decision will be taken by the Congress high command, and everyone will have to agree on it. All leaders and ministers should agree. Even I should agree, and DK Shivakumar should also agree. The matter was not discussed in the meeting,” the Chief Minister said.
Asked how he could stay at Kharge’s residence for more than an hour without discussing party matters, Siddaramaiah said: “Though he was at Kharge’s residence for a long time, he actually engaged in discussions with Kharge for more than an hour.”
–IANS
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