Talks on CM replacement 'ridiculous': BJP K'taka in-charge Arun Singh
'Will contest 2023 assembly polls under CM Bommai leadership'
Bengaluru, Aug 12: BJP National General Secretary in-charge of Karnataka Arun Singh on Friday termed speculation regarding replacing Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai as "ridiculous", and asserted that the party will contest the 2023 assembly polls under his leadership and come back to power in the state.
Calling the speculation as a "creation" of the Congress, he alleged that the opposition party that is divided due to infighting between its leaders, was raking up such issues to create "confusion".
"All these are tricks of Congress, it is raising such issues. It is the creation of Congress, as there is a big fight between Siddaramaiah (opposition leader) and D K Shivakumar (state president). It is a ridiculous question," Singh said in response to a question on speculation about CM replacement.
Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, he said good works are happening under the leadership of Chief Minister Bommai.
"As in-charge I'm telling you, you have to rely on me. I'm saying 100 per cent we will contest the next election under Bommai's leadership...we will come (to power) with full majority. We have a target of 150 seats and we will achieve it. Congress is a divided house, they are not on the ground and are just creating confusion," he added.
There has been some buzz on and off within the state BJP in recent times, regarding some kind of an overhaul including at the top level, especially after the recent visit of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to the state.
Adding to it, the Congress in a series of tweets had speculated about the possibility of the state having a third chief minister in this tenure with Bommai being replaced, and has even called him a "puppet CM".
Bommai has termed the speculations as "baseless" and "falsehood".
When pointed out to him that some BJP leaders were also speculating about changing the CM, Singh said, "Please also look at what I and several of our party leaders and ministers have said (on supporting Bommai)."
"Bommai is a common man. He is working for farmers, youth, and SC/ST. We will form a government under his leadership, don't worry about it," he said, adding that the Congress, which is a "leaderless party", was raking up such things with a plan, as they don't have any other agenda against the BJP. "There is no truth in it."
Former BJP MLA B Suresh Gowda's recent statement indicating some changes and that the high command will take a call on replacing the chief minister and other matters in the interest of the party and to win the elections in future had added to the speculation.
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SRH knocked out of play-off race after washout against DC
Hyderabad, May 5 (PTI): Sunrisers Hyderabad were eliminated from the play-offs race after their Indian Premier League fixture against Delhi Capitals was called off due to heavy rain following the first innings here on Monday.
Pat Cummins-led SRH pace attack ran through the DC batting line-up to limit the visitors to 133/7 before rain dashed the slim hopes of the home team. Both teams shared a point each for the abandoned game.
With 13 points from 11 games, DC remain in contention for a top-four spot.
After reaching the final last year, it was a season to forget for SRH who could not replicate their ballistic run of 2024 with the bat. Having collected only seven points from 11 matches, SRH will now be playing for pride.
Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals were already eliminated from the competition.
Before rain lashed the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, the hosts put up a clinical effort with the ball and were on course for only their fourth win of the season until rain arrived, creating large puddles of water on the outfield. The match officials decided to call off the game at 11.10 pm local time.
The shot selection of Delhi Capitals' batters contributed to their downfall after being put in to bat.
They were left reeling at 29 for five in 7.1 overs with captain Cummins causing the maximum damage.
Cummins had Karun Nair caught behind on the very first ball of the match with a good length ball around the off-stump. It was a rather loose shot from the DC batter first up.
Faf du Plessis departed in Cummins' following over, a failed attempt to put the relentless Australian away for a boundary. Not getting any loose ball from Cummins, the South Africa went for a pull on the charge only to be caught by the wicket-keeper.
Cummins' third victim was Abhishek Porel who was caught after mistiming a flick.
Harshal Patel and Jaydev Unadkat then got into the act by dismissing Axar Patel and K L Rahul respectively. The in-form Rahul went for a drive on the up but ended up edging it to Ishan Kishan behind the stumps.
It was one way traffic until Tristian Stubbs (41 not out off 36) and impact player Ashutosh Sharma (41 off 26) combined to take DC to a respectable total. They shared a 66-run stand off 45 balls.
Sharma was able to break the shackles by depositing leg-spinner Zeeshan Ansari for a couple of sixes over long-on in the 15th over.
Stubbs did not look as comfortable as Sharma in the middle but managed to provide much needed support to the latter. The South African could find only four boundaries with the last one coming off the final ball of the innings.
🚨 News 🚨
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 5, 2025
Match 55 between @SunRisers and @DelhiCapitals has been called off due to wet outfield.
Both teams share a point each.
Scorecard ▶ https://t.co/1MkIwk4VNE
#TATAIPL | #SRHvDC pic.twitter.com/VnVZWjsjGJ
