No bickering in party, ignore Rajanna’s statement on political changes: CM Siddaramaiah

Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday said there was no internal bickering in Congress, while rubbishing his Cabinet colleague K N Rajanna’s claim on ‘big’ political changes later this year.

“Where’s the internal bickering?” Siddaramaiah asked reporters rhetorically on AICC General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala visiting the state to review the party’s affairs.

On Rajanna’s statement, Siddaramaiah said: “He said that there may be developments. He didn’t specify what exactly. You (media) are guessing. It’s better to ignore it. It deserves to be ignored.”

Asked how he would interpret Rajanna’s statement, Siddaramaiah quipped: “I’m not a journalist.” He did not respond to Rajanna’s another statement that there were multiple power centres in the party.

Meanwhile, senior Congress lawmaker Basavaraj Rayareddi ruled out any change in leadership. “Nothing will happen. For the remaining 2.11 years, Siddaramaiah will remain the CM. A majority of the MLAs are with Siddaramaiah, who is a mass leader. He’s the only one who can pull crowds,” Rayareddi, the CM’s Economic Advisor, said.

However, Rayareddi urged Siddaramaiah to take steps towards tightening the administration. “Administration should become proper. For that, the CM should become stronger,” he said. “Siddaramaiah has yielded because he has to ensure consensus. That doesn’t mean he has become weak,” he added.

MBP dismisses ‘revolution’ in Congress

Minister for Large and Medium Industries M B Patil has said that no “revolution” will happen in the Congress.

He was responding to “September revolution” prediction of Cooperation Minister K N Rajanna. “Rajanna is a senior minister. I don’t know in which sense he spoke about September revolution. Probably, BJP and JD(S) legislators may join the Congress. As of now, there is no revolution in the party,” Patil said. He was speaking to reporters in Vijayapura on Friday. Patil further said that revolution, if any, in the Congress would be made jointly by the high command, chief minister, deputy chief minister and KPCC president. He said that he is not an aspirant for the KPCC president’s post.