Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Mar 1: Leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad, who was in the city on a private visit, had not agreed to allow any party leaders to meet him. However, D K Shivakumar was an exception. The meeting between the two leaders, particularly at a time when Shivakumar was expected to be announced as the new president of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) on Saturday, raised many eyebrows.

Sources said that Shivakumar has been told to wait for some time until the party high command makes up its mind on similar appointments in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

Even though Azad arrived here on Friday February 28 morning, no leaders went to see him as he was not prepared to meet them. On Saturday, however, Shivakumar met Azad and held discussions with him for about 30 minutes. This meeting has given rise to speculations in the camp that is opposed to Shivakumar's elevation as the state head of the Congress.

As per reports, Shivakumar expressed his frustration at the delay in announcing him as the next KPCC president. He is said to have expressed his indignation at the fact that former chief minister (CM), Siddaramaiah, has been blocking him from becoming KPCC president through state Congress in-charge, K C Venugopal.

Azad is said to have assured Shivakumar that he will back him in the high command, speak to national president of the party, Sonia Gandhi, and see that he is made KPCC president at the earliest.

It is also said that Shivakumar objected to Siddaramaiah's active participation in the birthday party of CM, B S Yediyurappa, where he heaped praises on the CM. Azad reportedly assured to bring this fact to the notice of the central leadership of the party including Sonia Gandhi.