Siddaramaiah will be CM after polls, say several Cong MLAs

Taunted by BJP over Congress not yet naming a chief ministerial candidate, several MLAs of the ruling party in Karnataka Assembly today said the party would retain power in the coming polls and incumbent Siddaramaih would continue in the post.
The issue came up when when Congress' K N Rajanna while attacking BJP on a host of issues, claimed that its state unit chief B S Yeddyurappa would be sidelined after the assembly polls.
"Yeddyurappa is one among the three leaders in thestate who has the capacity to shift votes; the other two are Siddaramaiah and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, but he (Yeddyurappa) will be sidelined like L K Advani," Rajanna saidduring the motion of thanks to Governor for his address.

Reacting, Leader of the Opposition Jagadish Shettar while pointing out that Yeddyurappa was the BJP's Chief ministerial candidate, questioned Congress about not announcing their candidate.
"It is accepted thing in our party that Yeddyurappa isour leader, we have even announced that he is our Chief Ministerial candidate. Who is your candidate?" he questioned.
He claimed that Congress had not announced its chief ministerial candidate fearing opposition from within, if they announce Siddaramaiah as the candidate the party will disintegrate.

"State Congress President Parameshwara has recently said any one can become the Chief Minister," he added.
In reply, Rajanna said "I'm saying that Siddaramaiah will be the Chief Minister.

Another Congress MLA NarendraSwamy also spoke in support of Rajanna's statement and a few othersendorsed it by thumping the desk.
Shettar once again said Congress feared the party would disintegrate if Siddaramaiah's namewas announced and asserted that it was BJPwhich would come to power.
Rajanna said Congress will come to power and Siddaramaiah would be the the chief minister, while questioning BJP about it not announcing CM candidate during Gujarat polls.