Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Aug 28: Former chief minister (CM) of Karnataka and chairman of coordination committee, Siddaramaiah's circumstantial statement about his desire to become CM if the people support him appears to have opened up the proverbial Pandora's Box. Several people and party leaders have lapped up the statement of Siddaramaiah with glee and begun to issue statements, some of which have developed into spar between leaders.

Agricultural minister in the coalition government, N H Shivashankara Reddy, said at Chamarajanagar on Monday August 27 that if the coordination committee decides in favour of Siddaramaiah, he and others in the party would be bound by such a decision. He said that if Congress had gained majority, Siddaramaiah would have been the automatic choice for the post of the CM and therefore, if the coordination committee decides so, Siddaramaiah will replace Kumaraswamy. Basavakalyana MLA, B Narayana Rao, said that Siddaramaiah becoming chief minister is a foregone conclusion.

The statement of the former CM has fuelled speculations and discussions about change in the chief minister. Some JD(S) leaders have been trying to calm down the situation by issuing statements.

Siddaramaiah said that the coordination committee is not entitled to discuss about who should be the chief minister and that party legislators decide this issue. JD(S) state president, H Vishwanath, too made a statement similar to that of the CM. Vishwanath also added that the coordination committee is meant to build and not break, and that Kumaraswamy will be the CM for the full term of five years.

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president, Dinesh Gundu Rao, said that Siddaramaiah was instrumental in the formation of the coalition government and there is no need to attach special meanings to his statement. Water resources minister, D K Shivakumar, said that the coalition government is not an earthen pot to break as and when one wished.

BJP MLA, Umesh Katti, noted that minister, Zameer Ahmed, had said in the past that the coalition government led by Kumaraswamy had entered registered marriage. "But this government has not entered any marriage. The parties concerned are engaged in illicit relationship. Because of immoral relationship and internal fights, this government will crumble within a week," Katti predicted.