'CM change' chorus grows in K'taka

Surjewala meets MLAs

- AGENCIES

Congress president Mallikarjuna Kharge on Monday asserted matters like leadership change will be decided by party "high command", comments that came amid the "CM change" chorus from a section of party leaders in Karnataka, as it reached out to "disgruntled" MLAs in the southern state.

Amid signs of "disgruntlement" and speculation about Chief Minister change within the ruling Congress, party General Secretary in-charge of Karnataka, Randeep Singh Surjewala on Monday began meetings with MLAs. Separately, Kharge asserted that it is up to the party "high command" to decide on matters such as change of guard.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that the Congress government in the state will remain "as solid as a rock" for five years and maintained that he and his deputy D K Shivakumar share good terms.