Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Jun 27: The behind-the-scene tussle between current and former chief ministers of Karnataka, H D Kumaraswamy and Siddaramaiah, has aggravated. It is learnt that Kumaraswamy, speaking to the national leadership of Congress party, told them that the leaders of Congress had taken initiative to form the coalition government, duly offering the post of the chief minister to him, and also asserting that there were no pre-conditions.

He told them that Siddaramaiah, who is currently at Ujire, has been speaking against the presentation of the budget and also about the stability of the government. He told them that unless they advise him and ask him to restrain himself, BJP will encash the opportunity and begin to heap criticism on the state government.

Siddaramaiah and Kumaraswamy

At the same time, Siddaramaiah is angry that Kumaraswamy, who should have aired all his views about the budget in the coordination committee meeting, where it was raised, is unnecessarily raking up the matter with Congress high command and through different statements in the media. "Coordination committee has been formed to strike understanding between coalition partners on issues of policies, execution, and sharing of power and responsibilities. CM was advised at the coordination committee meeting when this matter was raised, to table only the supplementary budget. If he was not agreeable to this proposal, Kumaraswamy should have said it in the said meeting or waited till the next meeting," he has been saying.

Siddaramaiah is seething with anger on the repeated statement of Kumaraswamy that he is determined to present full budget this time.

At the same time, audio of Siddaramaiah telling someone during discussions during his stay at Ujire that the current government might last only till the Lok Sabha election, is making the rounds.

Siddaramaiah's argument is that the Congress, which is majority partner in the coalition, had presented the budget and got vote on account for the same which is valid till July. He says that even if the government presents budget now, it can only get vote on account for a period of three to four months. He thinks that detailed budget needs department-wise discussions, addition of schemes and projects as well as estimates after which the governor will sign the financial appropriation bill. Siddaramaiah thinks that presentation of new budget at this stage does not achieve anything.

At the same time, former chief minister and state chief of BJP, B S Yeddyurappa, warding off speculations about BJP getting active to destabilize the government, said that his party will not do anything to destabilize the government. He said that the coalition partners will fight among themselves and hasten the fall of the government. He explained that national president of his party, Amit Shah, whom he met at Ahmadabad the previous day, had advised him against trying to reap benefit of the feud between the coalition partners in the state.

In the meanwhile, deputy chief minister, Dr G Parameshwar, said that when the coalition was forged, both the parties had agreed that the government would last for five years. "I am not aware what Siddaramaiah has said. In the capacity of the president of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee, I can confirm that this government will last for the full five year term," he stated.

Ending all speculations, Kumaraswamy said that the budget would be presented on July 5.