NEW DELHI: Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar on Friday remained tight-lipped over speculation surrounding the “nameplate” change in the state, following Siddaramaiah’s resignation as chief minister.“I will not open my mouth,” Shivakumar said when asked about the “nameplate change”. Earlier while speaking to reporters in Delhi, Shivakumar also declined to comment on Rajya Sabha nominations. “There is no update at the moment. As discussed earlier, the central leadership will announce the list along with those of the other states. That is the information available to us, and they will inform you later. This is not my domain…I do not know. There are some discussions and consultations going on. The party’s High Command will take the decision,” he said.Also read: After breakfast diplomacy, Sidda-DKS meet over lunch in DelhiThe developments came a day after Siddaramaiah stepped down as Karnataka chief minister and travelled to Delhi for a series of meetings with senior Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and party president Mallikarjun Kharge.Shivakumar later confirmed that a Congress Legislature Party meeting would be held in Bengaluru on Saturday after consultation with the party high command. Congress leader Saleem Ahmed said the meeting, scheduled for 4 pm, would be attended by K C Venugopal and Surjewala, with the next chief minister expected to be formally announced there with DKS clear frontrunner for the post.
The outgoing chief minister has declined a Rajya Sabha nomination and conveyed his preference to remain active in Karnataka politics rather than move to a central role. Congress general secretary Randeep Surjewala described Siddaramaiah’s meeting with Rahul Gandhi as “very pleasant” and insisted there would be “no hurdle in the smooth tradition of power in the state”.
