Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, Jun 29: The decision of former chief minister and chairman of coordination committee of Congress and JD(S), Siddaramaiah, not to vacate his residence, and the demand of current deputy chief minister (DCM),Dr G Parameshwara, for allotment of this house to him, have put chief minister, H D Kumaraswamy, in a fix.
Kumaraswamy has decided against occupying 'Kaveri' residence of the chief minister located by the side of the chief minister's home office, 'Krishna'. Therefore, Parameshwara had sought allotment of this house to him. Kumaraswamy had agreed to do the same and was about to act upon this promise when Siddaramaiah, who has been given the status of cabinet minister in the capacity of the chairman of the coordination committee, decided to stay put in the same house without shifting elsewhere. This decision has resulted in clash of statuses between them.
Parameshwara & Siddaramaiah - File photo
Parameshwara argues that being the deputy chief minister, home minister and Bengaluru development minister, he has lot of protocol to follow and responsibilities to discharge. Naturally, many workers and members of the public would like to meet him. As 'Kaveri' has been constructed in tune with the protocol of the chief minister, he feels he rightfully deserves that house. He also feels that having occupied a position that is more important than Siddaramaiah, he deserves this house that suits him, and if he is given residence anywhere else, it would create trouble for others because of huge rush of people and vehicles.
People close to Siddaramaiah argue that if he vacates the house, it will give rise to the notion that politically Parameshwara has got an upper hand. Siddaramaiah feels that having been given the status of cabinet minister he has the right to retain the current house. It is said that there is pressure to allot this house to large scale industries minister, K J George, if a decision to move Siddaramaiah out of the current house is taken, instead of Parameshwara.
Chief minister, Kumaraswamy, is in a bind over the issue, it is learnt.