<p>Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has clarified that Congress general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala’s meeting with ministers and officers was not an official one even as the BJP on Wednesday lodged a complaint with Raj Bhavan. </p>.<p>On Tuesday, Surjewala came under attack for being in a meeting in which Bengaluru development and the BBMP elections were discussed with senior ministers and IAS officers. </p>.<p>“It wasn’t an official meeting. He just met MLAs who were called to discuss elections. To seek legal opinion, the advocate-general was there. Even the deputy CM was there in that meeting,” Siddaramaiah told reporters.</p>.<p>He even conceded that Surjewala has no power to hold a meeting with officials. </p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/state/karnataka-politics/bjp-questions-surjewalas-presence-in-meeting-of-d-k-shivakumar-and-bbmp-officials-1227526.html" target="_blank">BJP questions Surjewala's presence in meeting of D K Shivakumar and BBMP officials</a></strong></p>.<p>“It was a meeting called to discuss Bengaluru development. In the course of the meeting, election was discussed. It’s not an official meeting,” Siddaramaiah said. </p>.<p>A BJP delegation comprising lawmakers R Ashoka, P C Mohan, S Raghu, S Suresh Kumar, Ravi Subramanya, M Krishnappa and C K Ramamurthy submitted a memorandum to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot seeking action against ministers, including Shivakumar, for violating rules governing conduct of government business. </p>.<p>“Why did the Congress not invite our Rajya Sabha MPs Nirmala Sitharaman, Rajeev Chandrashekar, three Lok Sabha MPs and 16 MLAs? How can Surjewala, elected from some other state, hold a meeting of our officials?” Ashoka questioned. </p>.<p>Playing down the BJP’s complaint, Shivakumar maintained that there was no “such” meeting.</p>.<p>“I can provide a list of meetings that were held when the BJP was there,” he said.</p>
<p>Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has clarified that Congress general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala’s meeting with ministers and officers was not an official one even as the BJP on Wednesday lodged a complaint with Raj Bhavan. </p>.<p>On Tuesday, Surjewala came under attack for being in a meeting in which Bengaluru development and the BBMP elections were discussed with senior ministers and IAS officers. </p>.<p>“It wasn’t an official meeting. He just met MLAs who were called to discuss elections. To seek legal opinion, the advocate-general was there. Even the deputy CM was there in that meeting,” Siddaramaiah told reporters.</p>.<p>He even conceded that Surjewala has no power to hold a meeting with officials. </p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/state/karnataka-politics/bjp-questions-surjewalas-presence-in-meeting-of-d-k-shivakumar-and-bbmp-officials-1227526.html" target="_blank">BJP questions Surjewala's presence in meeting of D K Shivakumar and BBMP officials</a></strong></p>.<p>“It was a meeting called to discuss Bengaluru development. In the course of the meeting, election was discussed. It’s not an official meeting,” Siddaramaiah said. </p>.<p>A BJP delegation comprising lawmakers R Ashoka, P C Mohan, S Raghu, S Suresh Kumar, Ravi Subramanya, M Krishnappa and C K Ramamurthy submitted a memorandum to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot seeking action against ministers, including Shivakumar, for violating rules governing conduct of government business. </p>.<p>“Why did the Congress not invite our Rajya Sabha MPs Nirmala Sitharaman, Rajeev Chandrashekar, three Lok Sabha MPs and 16 MLAs? How can Surjewala, elected from some other state, hold a meeting of our officials?” Ashoka questioned. </p>.<p>Playing down the BJP’s complaint, Shivakumar maintained that there was no “such” meeting.</p>.<p>“I can provide a list of meetings that were held when the BJP was there,” he said.</p>