No cold war with CM, says KPCC chief G. Parameshwara

Reacting to media reports about widening differences among senior leaders of the ruling Congress after induction of three ministers in the Siddaramaiah Ministry last week, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president G. Parameshwara on Sunday clarified that there was “no cold war” between him and the Chief Minister. Mr. Parameshwara had stayed away from the swearing-in ceremony of three Congress ministers last Friday. Addressing media persons here, the KPCC chief said he was suffering from viral fever and therefore could not attend the swearing in ceremony at the Raj Bhavan. Mr. Parameshwara clarified that there were no differences between him and the Chief Minister. He and Mr. Siddaramaiah have worked together for the last six and half years. He served as the Home Minister in the Siddaramaiah government. The Congress leader blamed the Opposition for spreading rumours about difference of opinion between him and the Chief Minister on the expansion of the State Cabinet. Though they had suggested different names, they finally reached consensus on the expansion of the Cabinet, Mr. Parameshwara said. However, party sources said Mr. Parameshwara was sulking after the cabinet expansion because the Chief Minister did not consult him and inducted into the Ministry his own loyalists.