Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday rejected the reports of squabbles in the state's ruling Congress. Siddaramaiah also urged people to overlook Cooperation Minister KN Rajanna's remark that there were numerous power centres in the state's ruling Congress.
Rajanna on Thursday had said that there will be a political development post-September. The remark was taken to be an indicator of potential leadership shift in Karnataka.
"Where's internal bickering? All that Rajanna has told us is that there are developments. He did not tell us that such and such things will happen," Siddaramaiah informed media persons here.
"What do you do if you file conjectural reports? It's better to just ignore it," the Chief Minister replied. He did not comment on the question on Rajanna's comment that there are several power centres in Karnataka Congress. Rajanna had said, "Between 2013-18 there was a single power centre. Now there are plenty— one, two, three."
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On Thursday, Siddaramaiah tried to douse rumours about internal tension in the Congress-led government in office. The Chief Minister put in some words, "Where is the internal squabbling? Rajanna only made a statement that there might be political developments. It doesn't mean this or that will take place. Did he claim one specific thing will occur? What can one do if you imagine things and report? It's better to dismiss these statements."
Rajanna's statement made eyebrows rise in both the Congress and opposition circles. Rajanna, considered to be a long-time loyalist of Siddaramaiah, made the comments after meeting with the Chief Minister at Vidhana Soudha on Wednesday.
"...there will be developments in state politics. It will start (after September)," Rajanna stated.
Rajanna had previously claimed, both in the Assembly and in Delhi, that he was being targeted in an attempt at a honey-trap. Subsequently, after the scandal, he had also said he was willing to resign and had indicated that he would like to succeed as Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President, currently occupied by Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar.
The comments were interpreted as indirect censure of Shivakumar, who is both the executive president and the state party president. When asked about this, Shivakumar: "I don't know. You must ask him about this."
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