Siddaramaiah loses cool at journalists over leadership change question: 'How many times do I have to tell you?’

Siddramaiah, who is in Delhi, met with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge along with other senior party leaders

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah again dismissed speculation about a change in the state's leadership, asserting that there has been no discussion with the Congress high command about the change.

"How many times do I tell you, it (speculations around Karnataka CM post) was not discussed at all? This issue was not discussed at all with the high command," Siddaramaiah told ANI on Friday.

Siddramaiah, who is in Delhi, met with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge along with other senior party leaders on Thursday, fanning the speculation over a possible CM change in Karnataka.

Taking to X, Siddaramaiah informed about Congress leaders meeting with Kharge, in which he mentioned that "several important issues" were discussed.

"In Delhi today, AICC leaders and senior state leaders met Mallikarjun Kharge at his residence and held discussions on several important issues.

Meanwhile, BJP leader Rachna Reddy said that Congress high command should clarify to Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar whether they will fulfil their "promise" or "show the door" to him.

"The Congress high command should certainly clarify, if not to everyone, then certainly to Mr. DK Shivakumar, that he is going to be shown the door and that they will not fulfil the promise that they gave him, that forced him to become the Deputy Chief Minister," Rachna Reddy said.

Earlier, Karnataka Congress in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala held one to one meetings with

Congress MLAs which sparked speculation over the party handing the leadership to DK Shivakumar.

However, Siddaramaiah has clarified to reporters that Surjewala clearly stated that the purpose of meeting the MLAs in the state is not the issue of change of Chief Ministers.

According to reports, both Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar were expecting a meeting with Rahul Gandhi. However, Rahul skipped the meeting and proceeded to Bhubaneswar to attend various events, including a public rally.

Shivakumar met senior Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra at her residence in Delhi on Wednesday. While the meeting drew attention, Shivakumar refused to disclose what was discussed.