Bengaluru, Feb. 25 -- Deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar on Tuesday said it was the chief minister's responsibility to rein in ministers and legislators amid ongoing political statements and speculation over leadership and cabinet expansion, while maintaining that he was reporting organisational matters to the party's central leadership.

"It is the chief minister's responsibility to control ministers and MLAs. As party president, I am informing the high command about party-related matters," he told reporters near his official residence.

His remarks came against the backdrop of political debate within the ruling Congress, including statements by some leaders about a possible change in leadership and calls from certain quarters for a Dal...