Bengaluru, 11 Sept

Making it clear that the Chief Minister post in the state is not vacant for anyone to weigh in to occupy it now, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Wednesday asserted that there are no doubts in this regard and he will continue in the position.

As Siddaramaiah's petition challenging the Governor's sanction for his prosecution in a site allotment case is being heard in the High Court, some Congress leaders seem to be preparing for a race to become CM in the event of leadership change, with several of them openly expressing their desire.

"No one has given any statement. No one has said that they will become the Chief Minister. The seat (of CM) is not vacant, then why will anyone say that they will become CM? What everyone is saying is Siddaramaiah will continue," Siddaramaiah told reporters in response to a question .

When pointed out that some leaders have said that they will become CM if Siddaramaiah "instructs," he said, "...when the post is not vacant, why will anyone give such instruction?"

Asked whether some Congress leaders have doubts about CM post falling vacant, Siddaramaiah said: "there is no doubt. I will continue."

A group of Congress leaders on Tuesday wrote to Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi requesting him to warn party leaders including senior Ministers, who are weighing in for the Chief Minister's post, in the event of leadership change.

The signatories of the letter, including current and former lawmakers and some ex-Ministers, have also asked him to direct them not to issue damaging statements in future.

State Congress working president Manjunath Bhandary and MLC Dinesh Gooligowda on Monday wrote to AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, asking him to curb speculation over the Chief Minister’s tenure.

While Deputy CM and state Congress chief DK Shivakumar is seen as a prime contender for the post in case of any change in leadership, names of Home Minister G Parameshwara and PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi too are doing rounds, especially following their recent meeting with party leadership in New Delhi.

A verbal duel of sorts had erupted between two senior Ministers -- MB Patil and Shivanand Patil -- about seniority as the yardstick to become the Chief Minister.

Senior Congress MLAs -- Administrative Reforms Commission Chairperson RV Deshpande and Basavaraj Rayareddy, who is Siddaramaiah's financial adviser -- too have expressed their wish to become the Chief Minister.-PTI