India, Nov. 22 -- Amid speculation over the leadership change issue in Karnataka, the Congress on Friday said it has sternly warned its leaders and MLAs in the State from making any public statements on the leadership issue or falling for the agenda propagated by vested interests.

Blaming the BJP for running a maligning campaign against its Karnataka government, AICC general secretary in-charge for party affairs in Karnataka Randeep Surjewala said he had a discussion with chief minister Siddaramaiah and deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar over the issue.

"Had a discussion with Karnataka CM and Deputy CM and they agreed that a decisively defeated and faction-ridden Karnataka BJP, along with a section of the media, are designedly running...