Karnataka minister Muniyappa asks Mallikarjun Kharge to clarify on leadership issue

New Delhi: Senior Congress leader and Food and Civil Supplies Minister K H Muniyappa on Wednesday said that he has requested Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to clarify the party stand on news of change of leadership issue in Karnataka immediately and put an end to all speculation.

Muniyappa, who met Kharge here, told media persons that “ I have requested Kharge to clarify the party high command stand whether they go for leadership change or will allow Chief Minister Siddaramaiah complete a full five year term.”

“No body knows whether there was any pact between Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on sharing of power. The party must make its stand clear on this issue. Any delay in clarifying may further damage the party as well as the government functioning. This is what I have told Kharge,” Muniyappa said.

“The party leaders in the state as well as workers were fed up with media speculation every day about the possible change of leadership following the Siddaramaiah headed government completing a two and half year term on November 20. We must put an end to this confusion once for all,” Muniyappa said.

“The frequent debate on leadership issues in the media is taking a toll on the state administration as well as the functioning of the party. As a senior Congress leader, I am concerned about this issue,” he said.

Insisting that it is up to high command to decide whether to continue Chief Minister Siddaramaiah or appointing the new Chief Minister, he said, " the Siddaramaiah headed government is functioning smoothly."

To a question on Dalit CM, he said though there were several eligible Dalit leaders in the state including Kharge, it is up to the party top brass to decide on this issue. However, he clarified that he had not raised the Dalit CM issue with Kharge during the meeting.

When asked whether he will be dropped from the cabinet if his daughter Roopa Shashidar, KGF MLA, made Minister in the cabinet reshuffle, he said, “She belongs to Kolar district and I am an MLA from Devanahalli, which belongs to Bengaluru Rural district. Both belong to separate areas. Don't ask whether I will be dropped from the cabinet if Roopa is made as the Minister.”