Didn’t say there won’t be PM from K’taka: CM

Bengaluru, NT Bureau: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday raised eyebrows when he clarified that he had never said no one from Karnataka would become the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) candidate for Prime Minister.

He asserted that he had been misquoted, adding that he said he was not interested in becoming PM in a personal capacity. The CM made the remarks to mediapersons after a press conference during the question and answer session.

“Ravindra Reshme (journalist) asked me if I would become Prime Minister. I told him that I won’t and would stay away from any Central government formations. I have been quoted as saying there’ll be no PM from Karnataka. It is not correct. I never said that,” Siddaramaiah said, to the amusement of members of the press and his ministerial colleagues.

He added that there were many people in Karnataka who were capable of heading the country’s government. INDIA bloc partners have suggested the name of Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge for the post of PM.

Kharge is originally from Bhalki taluk in Bidar district and has been the Lok Sabha MP from Kalaburagi district in the state. Meanwhile, Siddaramaiah has suggested Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi’s name for the top job.