Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah has to identify himself multiple times before being allowed inside 10 Janpath
NEW DELHI: Siddaramaiah might have been the talk of the town just a couple of weeks ago, following Congress’ much-relieved win in Karnataka.
But despite occupying various media platforms, the veteran Congress leader had to go through the rigmarole of a security check when he came to visit the party high command – the Gandhis, former presidents, Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi.
Videos on social media showed that Siddaramaiah, despite being the Chief minister of a state, has to identify himself multiple times to the security at 10 Janpath.
The incident draws criticism, even from the opposition, with BJP leader Amit Malviya questioning the humiliation faced by a democratically elected leader.
Siddaramaiah, who withstood a strong challenge from Karnataka state Congress president DK Shivakumar to become the CM of the state for the second time, met United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Friday.
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Sources told The New Indian that the Karnataka CM arrived in New Delhi to discuss cabinet expansion with the party high command. On Thursday, he also met Congress general secretary Sonia Gandhi’s daughter, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, in New Delhi.
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After a high drama, involving the battle for the CM’s chair between the party’s two stalwarts in the state, Siddaramaiah pipped Shivakumar to become the state’s CM for the second time on May 18. Shivakumar was named as his deputy, with the oath-taking ceremony taking place on May 20.
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Fighting to stay relevant in the Indian political sphere, Congress won an incredible 135 seats in the 224-member Karnataka assembly.