From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Jul 16: Former Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker K B Koliwad, who had blamed the previous Congress chief minister Siddaramaiah for his defeat in the recent assembly elections, has strongly supported Congress-JD(S) coalition regime’s chief minister H D Kumaraswamy’s contention that he was “not happy’’ and ``was swallowing poison like Vishakanta.’’
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru two days after Kumaraswamy’s statement at the JD(S) party meeting, Koliwad openly blamed some Congress leaders for the chief minister’s unhappiness and alleged that some leaders dislike the continuation of the coalition government.
Koliwad said the coalition government was stitched with blessings of the party high command.
K B Koliwad
“I don’t know why some Congress leaders are opposing the smooth functioning of the coalition government?’’ Koliwad said.
He, however, refused to name the Congress leaders, who were giving troubles to the chief minister.
The Congress would win more seats in the Lok Sabha elections only if it join hands with the JD(S), he said.
Reacting to Koliwad’s comments, state Congress president Dinesh Gundu Rao said there was no need for discussing the former Speaker’s comments.
The Congress leaders said that the JD(S) has been given “amrutha” (nectar) by giving the chief minister’s post and plump portfolios, including the Finance.
Meanwhile, Mallikarjun Kharge, leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha, said the chief minister's statement would damage the Congress prospects.
Apparently, the government has been facing coordination problems since it came to power.
The chief minister’s budgetary proposals on hike in taxes on fuel prices and reduction of quantity of rice from 7 kg to 5 kg have been strongly opposed by the Congress.
Kumaraswamy, while addressing party workers, had said: “All of you are happy because your elder or younger brother has become the chief minister. But I am not happy. I am swallowing my own pain like poison, like Vishakantha (Lord Shiva, who drank poison to save the world).’’
Deputy chief minister Dr G Parameshwara said: “How can he (CM) say that? He surely must be happy. The chief minister has to be happy always. If he’s happy, all of us will be happy. We can provide a good government and make the people happy.’’