BENGALURU: Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president D K Shivakumar met party president Mallikarjun Kharge in Delhi for about 45 minutes as the party leadership finalises the chief ministerial candidate for Karnataka.
After Shivakumar left, party leader Siddaramaiah who is also a strong contender for the chief minister’s post, arrived at Kharge’s residence to hold talks.
It is learnt that Shivakumar told Kharge that there was no question of him withdrawing from the race for the CM’s post. Kharge also assured him an audience with UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.
Shivakumar conveyed to Kharge that he has worked dedicatedly for the party and is only seeking the reward for it. He said he was given the responsibility of the state unit in difficult times and had brought it to power. “Madam had promised me that if I bring the party to power, I would be made CM”, he reportedly told Kharge.
Kharge then told Shivakumar that he would speak to Sonia Gandhi and would summon him again. Shivakumar also denied that he had threatened to quit as KPCC president.
Meanwhile, Siddaramaiah is also believed to have told Kharge that he too has a role in the party winning the Karnataka Assembly election and that he has worked hard for the party. He is learnt to have told Kharge that Shivakumar still has age on his side and could become chief minister later on.
“If Shivakumar does not budge, I will resign as MLA and stay away and he can run the government”, Siddaramaiah is learnt to have told Kharge.