Leadership 'change': Ministers in huddle with Kharge in B'luru

NT Corespondent

Bengaluru: Several key min isters in the Kar nataka cabinet on Thursday huddled with AICC President Mal likarjun Kharge at his residence here, even as Chief Minister Siddara maiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar are camped in New Delhi, amid spec ulation about CM change later this year.

Interestingly, the meeting came on a day, Siddaramaiah asserted there was "no vacancy" for the CM's post as he was very much in the chair, debunking talk of a possible change of lead ership in the state.

Speaking to reporters in Delhi, Siddaramaiah claimed that he would complete his five-year tenure as chief minister and brushed aside talk of him paving the way for his deputy Shivakumar, to take over later this year.

According to reports, Siddaramaiah and Shi vakumar are in Delhi, ex pecting a meeting with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and other central leaders.

However, the push for Shivakumar to become the CM refuses to die down with some MLAs openly making state ments in this regard. The ministers who met Kharge include -- Home Minister G Paramesh wara, Law Minister H K Patil, Forest Minister Esh war Khandre, PWD Min ister Satish Jarkiholi, So cial Welfare Minister H C Mahadevappa, Hous ing Minister B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan, Health Min ister Dinesh Gundu Rao and Medical Education Minister Sharan Prakash Patil.

While some ministers claimed that it was a courtesy meeting as the Congress President was in the city, few said they discussed political de velopments, but refused to divulge details. "It was a cordial meet ing. He inquired about the government's cur rent activities and we discussed the political situation," Jarkiholi said.