I am not in race for KPCC chief, says Mallikarjun Kharge

Kalaburagi: While AICC general secretary, K C Venugopal  has given nothing away yet on the appointment of a new Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, senior  Congress leader, Mallikarjun Kharge, whose name has been doing the rounds as a possible successor to Dr G Parameshwar, claimed on Thursday that he was not a contender for the post. Asked about the possibility, Mr Kharge told reporters here that neither was he making an attempt to become  KPCC chief again and nor had the high command approached  him to don the mantle. 

“It has also not sought my views on who should be the KPCC chief. When it does, I will offer my advice. Thanks to its generosity I have held almost all major posts in the party and I will continue to obey its diktat in future too,” he added. 

When his attention was drawn to reports that senior leader, Kamalnath could replace him as leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha, Mr Kharge claimed he had no idea about such a  move. “You should pose this question to Mr Rahul Gandhi,” he suggested.

On reports of some senior leaders planning to quit the party owing to differences with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah , he advised them not to take such a hasty step as the Congress was poised to return to power in the state. “The state government is performing well and will come back to power again. These leaders should stay in the party and work for its success,” he said.