Karnataka Congress chief D K Shivakumar on Tuesday refuted media reports speculating that former party President Sonia Gandhi might be offered a Rajya Sabha seat from the state. Shivakumar dismissed the claims as false and asserted that no discussions regarding this matter have taken place.
Recent media reports have suggested that Sonia Gandhi might opt out of contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha polls and instead be nominated for a Rajya Sabha seat from Karnataka. In 1999, Sonia Gandhi had previously won the Lok Sabha elections from Ballari in Karnataka defeating the late BJP leader Sushma Swaraj.
In response to a question on such reports, Shivakumar, also the Deputy Chief Minister said, "All such information is false, no such discussions have happened. You (media) are writing such speculations, no such discussions have happened."
Simultaneously, Shivakumar criticised BJP and JD(S) for their involvement in the dispute over the removal of the Hanuman flag from the 108-ft flagstaff in Keragodu village, Mandya district. He alleged that such actions were intended to disturb the peace and create a law and order situation.
Alleging that innocent villagers are being misused, Shivakumar said, "In old Mysuru region (south Karnataka) people of all castes and religions are living with peace and brotherhood. Now they are trying to do an new experiment, let them do."