Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru (DC)

Bengaluru, Aug 27: Former minister and senior Congress leader H M Revanna on Sunday hailed former chief minister Siddaramaiah as the mass leader and clarified that the latter had stated that he would become the chief minister again if the electorate blessed him.

Speaking to reporters here on Sunday August 26 Revanna said, "Siddaramaiah is a national leader and also the chairman of co-ordination committee of the coalition government. Siddaramaiah while addressing a public gathering said that despite pro-people schemes during his tenure, Congress party could not get clear majority,”

“When the people gathered at the spot said that he should once again become the chief minister to which he relied saying that it was possible with the blessings from the electorate. Siddaramaiah himself has clarified on the same in Mysuru," he added.

D K Shivakumar and H M Revanna

"In politics everybody has the desire to hold key position except Congress former president Sonia Gandhi," he said.

Clarifying that there was no rift within coalition government, he said, “There is no confusion in coalition government in the state. Fake news that the coalition government will fall by September 3 is doing the rounds. Our government is strong and steady and it will definitely complete five years," he said.

Meanwhile, another Congress leader and minister in coalition government D K Shivakumar too clarified on Siddaramaiah's statement and said that remarks were made to motivate the party workers. "Siddaramaiah is a strong leader of the Congress and he would not go to an extent of destabilizing the government. He made the statement with an intention to encourage the party activists ahead of upcoming elections," he said.

"His statement has been misquoted and it is true that we too worked in the last Assembly elections ensuring second term of Siddaramaiah as the chief minister. But we accept people's mandate," he added.

Speaking at a function held on the occasion of the inaugural of a temple at Holenarasipura town near here, Siddaramaiah said that during this year's election, he had thought that he would be the CM again. "But all my opponents joined together to make sure that I do not become CM for the second time. During my five-year rule, I had drawn up schemes for the development of all classes of people. Still, for no reason, the people did not extend support to us. Currently, election is fought on the basis of money and caste, which is dangerous for democratic set up," he had said.