Bengaluru, Jan 31: A day after his son, chief minister HD Kumaraswamy, threatened to step down in exasperation, JD(S) supremo Deve Gowda asked the Congress leadership to rein in its state leaders who were not allowing the CM to work. Gowda said Siddaramaiahhas been holding a grudge against him for over two decades for failing to become CM and was behind the current tension between the coalition partners.
Gowda was addressing a JD(S) rally at the party’s two-day national executive meet. “Things have already reached a final stage. Before the situation goes out of control, the Congress high command must intervene and impress upon their state leaders. I am seething with anger from within and watching the developments carefully, ” Gowda said in a 30-minute long speech.
Indirectly referring to Siddaramaiah, he said, “He has been nursing a grudge against us as he thinks I scuttled his chances of becoming CM on two occasions. Once, when I vacated the post after being chosen as PM candidate in 1996 and second, when we formed a coalition government with Congress in 2004,” Gowda said. He added that he was ready for a discussion with Siddaramaiah.
Gowda said it has been just seven months since Kumaraswamy became CM but he is being targeted and criticised day in and day out by the alliance partner. “Why are they (Congress) after him? Why are they not allowing him to work? A conspiracy is going on to bring a bad name to Kumaraswamy’s pro-people programmes,” the former PM alleged.
Gowda said his party, which had paved a platform for regional parties to unite against BJP, is being targeted. “How long can we go on like this? I leave it to the people and other regional parties to take note of the development. From our side, we have no intention to break away from the alliance. We will wait till the end,” Gowda said.
Referring to allegation by Congress MLAs that Kumarswamy was not easily accessible to them, Gowda said: “It is absurd to say a man known to be the most accessible CM to even a common man is not available for Congress MLAs. See, how far they have gone.”
Gowda also said Kumaraswamy had obliged Congress in all its demands barring their recommendation for the post chief of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board. “What more can a CM do?” he said.
I will not stick to power: Kumaraswamy
Sending a meessage to alliance partner Congress, Kumaraswamy said power is not his priority, public welfare is. “I am still in pain but I am enduring it with a hope to use my power for the welfare of the people,” he told party workers.
Kumaraswamy said his father did not think for even a minute about stepping down as PM when he realised the time had come. “I will also do the same if such a situation arises. I know power is not permanent but people’s love and affection is,” he said.
He also reprimanded party workers for circulating a WhatsApp message criticising him for not entertaining their requests for transfers. “Is this what you have understood of me? You want development or transfer of a few officials? Don’t expect me to involve myself in transfer business. I am out of it,” he said.
Without taking the name of Congress MLA ST Somashekhar, who accused him of ignoring Bengaluru, the CM said, “I have sanctioned projects worth Rs 1 lakh crore for Bengaluru’s development in the last six months, including the Rs 17,000 crore peripheral ring road and Rs 24,000 crore elevated corridor project. Despite this I am facing criticism. How long I should tolerate it?” he asked.
Joint meeting
To ease tension between legislators of both parties, a joint meeting of Congress and JD(S) MLAs will be convened on February 6 or 7. DyCM G Parmaeshwara told TOI that as the assembly session is commencing from February 6, the meeting will be convened on either of those dates. “Chief minister HD Kumaraswamy will be present in the meeting and legislators of both parties can get their grievances redressed,'' he added.
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