CM candidate will be decided by high command, says Kharge

Union Labour Minister and senior Congress leader M Mallikarjun Kharge today exhorted Congress leaders in Karnataka not to create confusion over the Chief Ministerial candidate of the party in the next year's assembly elections, saying it would be decided by party high command.

"The need of the hour is to ensure that Congress returns to power and towards this everyone one should work unitedly," he told reporters here. The Congress High Command will decide the Chief Ministerial candidate, he said.

He, however, said there was nothing wrong in leaders aspiring for the top post, apparently referring to statements by some leaders that they were in the fray.

Kharge said the Constitution Amendment Bill to accord special status to Hyderabad-Karnataka region in the state had already been tabled in Parliament and the government will make efforts to secure its passage with the support of all parties.

Later, he participated in a function organised to celebrate late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's birthday, in which KPCC President G Parameshwara and others were present.