Home Minister G Parameshwara said there is no reason to feel elated over just two byelection victories.

In an interaction with reporters in Bengaluru on Monday, the minister said, “The party’s interest is more important than our personal egos. The Congress could win because voters stood by the party. If the party has to retain power, then collective leadership is important.”

He said that when he met party leaders in Delhi last week, he was asked to be prepared to take up more responsibility.

Asked who might replace him, Parameshwara said there are many eligible leaders including D K Shivakumar. But  the high command takes the final decision, he added.

Energy Minister D K Shivakumar, replying to questions from reporters, said he has not submitted an application seeking the president’s post. “I am not lobbying for the post. There are people who are supporting me. But some are resisting too. But I have neither applied for the post nor am I waiting for it,” he said.

Asked whether Siddaramaiah was opposed to his occupying the post, he shot back saying, “You ask him (CM). I have done the work entrusted to me.”

Water Resources Minister M B Patil said he is not an aspirant for the KPCC president’s post, but he said he is ready to take up any responsibility given by the party.

He told reporters that AICC president Sonia Gandhi had summoned him to Delhi last year and asked him whether he was ready to head the party in the state. He said he had told her that he has immense responsibility as the water resources minister.  “I have cleared my stand on the subject. But the decision of the party is final.”