A group of Congress legislators from the State are undertaking a foreign tour at their own expense.

Yathindra Siddaramaiah, Congress MLC and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s son, said a group of Congress legislators from the State are undertaking a foreign tour at their own expense.

Responding to reporters’ queries on the trip on February 17, Mr. Yathindra clarified that the State government is not bearing any expenditure related to the legislators’ foreign visit.

He said there is no reason to object to the trip since the legislators are paying for it themselves, adding that he understands it to be a study tour.

The MLC also dismissed suggestions of any political angle to the visit, even as it coincides with speculation over a power tussle between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar.

“There is no politics involved in the foreign trip,” he said, adding that the legislators would have gone ahead with the tour irrespective of any political developments in the State.

Replying to another query, Mr. Yathindra said he is not part of the delegation as he had not been invited.

Mum on leadership change speculation

Meanwhile, Mr. Yathindra declined to comment on the ongoing speculation about a possible change of leadership in the State.

He said he had already spoken enough on the issue since November last year. “How much more should I speak? I will not comment on the issue,” he added.

Mr. Yathindra also refused to respond to statements made by other Congress leaders regarding the leadership question.

The Congress MLC also lashed out at Pratap Simha, former MP, and Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, MLA, for referring to him as the “Transfer Minister”.

He alleged that both leaders, who had been sidelined by the BJP, were making baseless allegations merely to remain politically relevant.

He further said BJP leaders are targeting him because they have nothing substantial to criticise, whether with regards to the State government or the Chief Minister.

He also accused the BJP IT cell of making similar allegations without providing any evidence to support the claims.