No 'internal confusion' in Congress but don't know why I wasn't invited to Delhi: Parameshwara

Bengaluru: Home Minister G Parameshwara maintained Thursday that there was no rift within Congress while disconcertedly pointing out that he was not invited to the inauguration of the new Karnataka Bhavan in New Delhi whose foundation stone was laid by him.

On Wednesday, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge joined Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, his deputy DK Shivakumar, Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi and other leaders to inaugurate the new Karnataka Bhavan.

"I laid the foundation stone for it when I was the deputy chief minister. I don't know why I wasn't invited. For me to go to Delhi, I need an invite. In the absence of one, how do I go?" Parameshwara said when asked about his absence, which was conspicuous. "Yes, I saw photos. I'm not seen," he quipped.

"When the CM, deputy CM and public works minister are there, I didn't find it necessary to go. The CM represents all of us," Parameshwara added.

Parameshwara also denied talk that there was a rift between him and Shivakumar. "Nothing like that. I'll go to his house right now if I want to. We're good friends," he said.

The minister said there was no "internal confusion" in Congress. "Where's the internal confusion? I don't know. Congress is in power. We're running the government and providing programmes. There will be differences in opinions naturally. That shouldn't be construed as confusion. Me not attending a programme has nothing to do with administration here," he said.

On the appointment of a new Karnataka Congress president by replacing the incumbent Shivakumar, Parameshwara said: "Some say the KPCC president must be changed. Some say otherwise. Before I became the KPCC president for the second time, the situation was similar. Senior leaders met and decided to continue with me."

Parameshwara, who has earlier said that he has chief ministerial aspirations, felt that his opinions are not important when asked about Congress discussing nominations to four vacant MLC positions. "This is passage of time. Changes keep happening. When fresh water flows, old water makes way," he said.