By Arpita Ghosh
Congress General Secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala, who has been sent to the state as a trouble shooter by the party high command, on Tuesday denied reports of a possible leadership change, amid ongoing speculation and internal differences within the party鈥檚 ranks. 鈥淪ome of you asked me, are you taking opinion on leadership change. The answer I had given yesterday also and I am answering again today — the answer is clearly 鈥榥o鈥 in one word,鈥 Surjewala told reporters at a press conference. Flanked by Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who is also the state Congress president, Surjewala said his meetings with party MLAs, MPs, MLCs and recent election candidates were part of a routine review process, not to gauge support for a leadership reshuffle. 鈥淲e are meeting the MLAs and MPs. We are trying to understand what work they have done in their constituencies. It鈥檚 important to review their performance,鈥 he said. Speculation over a leadership change resurfaced after Congress MLA HA Iqbal Hussain recently suggested Shivakumar might take over as CM in two to three months. Cooperation Minister KN Rajanna also hinted at 鈥渞evolutionary鈥 developments in Karnataka politics after September. Rumours of a power-sharing deal between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar have circulated since the Congress returned to power last year, though party high command has so far maintained a firm stance against any change. Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also dismissed speculation about a leadership change, saying that the Congress government will remain “as solid as a rock” for the full five-year term. Amid renewed chatter about a possible power shift in the state, Siddaramaiah, with Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar by his side, said the two leaders share a strong working relationship. “This government will be as solid as a bande (rock) for five years,” Siddaramaiah told reporters, referencing a nickname often used for Shivakumar by his supporters. When asked if they were on good terms, Siddaramaiah responded, 鈥淲e are on good terms,鈥 before raising Shivakumar鈥檚 hand in a show of unity. The chief minister also pushed back against claims by BJP leaders that he would not be the one to inaugurate this year鈥檚 Mysuru Dasara celebrations. 鈥淏JP leaders are experts in lying,鈥 he said, taking aim at former minister B Sriramulu. 鈥淗e lost both Parliament and Assembly elections. How can someone who keeps losing predict the future?鈥 Both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar have always denied any internal rift.