Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, May 10: M B Patil, whose remark about the need to make Siddaramaiah the chief minister (CM) of Karnataka had given rise to lot of heartburn and controversy, went back on his words on Thursday May 9 and said that the question of replacing the current CM is irrelevant. Meanwhile Congress leader Cheluvarayaswamy advised the CM to mend his ways.

Speaking to the media after meeting Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president, Dinesh Gundu Rao at the party office, Patil, speaking to reporters, reminded them that Siddaramaiah himself has said that change in guard at the state level will not happen now. This stand is clearly the reversal of his assertion by Patil on Wednesday that he wanted Siddaramaiah back as the CM. His speculation had given rise to political analysts to believe that the CM may be replaced once the Lok Sabha election result is announced. Minister for skill development, P T Parameshwara Naik, too had pitched in with his support to the stand taken by Patil.

Cheluvarayaswamy, M B Patil

Revenue minister, R V Deshpande, realizing the damage, the said statements could cause to the coalition government, asked his party leaders and workers not to give rise to chaos in the government by coming out with such statements. He asserted that H D Kumaraswamy will remain the chief minister for the entire remaining term of the coalition government in the state. Saying that he does not nurse the ambition to become the CM, Deshpande said that discussions about the new CM can be held only during the next assembly poll.

Refusing to be drawn into the controversy, PWD minister, H D Revanna, stated that as per his assessment, Kumaraswamy will complete the entire term as the chief minister.

Cheluvarayaswamy's advice to CM

At the same time, Congress leader and former state minister, N Cheluvarayaswamy, advised the CM to mend his own behaviour before expressing his opinion about the behaviour of the leaders of the alliance partner. He was speaking to reporters at Mandya on Thursday.

"Kumaraswamy has only 30 MLAs with him. Still he keeps issuing directions to Congress leaders, who have 80 MLAs. He said that such an arrangement had not happened earlier, and expressed the opinion that the JD(S) and the Congress cannot present an united face anywhere in the state.   He also claimed that no one has sought Siddaramaiah to be made the CM in place of Kumaraswamy and that the CM is expected to address problems of all the communities without any exception. He therefore explained the party cadres fondly wish that Siddaramaiah would become chief minister again.