Calling himself a “child of circumstances”, the newly sworn-in Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Wednesday said efforts would be made to make the Congress–Janata Dal (Secular)–Bahujan Samaj Party alliance “a model alliance” in the country.
“The alliance government will be more stable than the government by a single party. We are not giving any room for misunderstanding. The government will address the problem of people and dispel all suspicion over the stability of the government,” said Mr. Kumaraswamy at his maiden press conference after taking oath.
“I’m a child of circumstances in today’s strange political situation. I have to keep my personal decisions and dreams aside owing to the mandate. The State’s development will be of primary focus, and politics will be secondary.”
While some of the popular schemes of the Congress would be continued, the new budget would have new programmes and schemes culled out from the Congress and JD(S) election manifestos, he said. The alliance partners had not worked out modalities, and a coordination committee would be set up to discuss the common minimum programme to be implemented by the government, he added.
On the ₹53,000 crore farm loan waiver, which his party had announced in its manifesto, Mr. Kumaraswamy said, “Now, I cannot take individual decision since we are in an alliance. Who will be responsible if there are problems in the alliance if I take the decision on my own and my partner feels sidelined?” Further, he said, “I have a blueprint ready for the loan waiver. I will keep the economy in good health and will take the Congress also into confidence (before the announcement). The Congress will also get credit for it.”
Responding to criticism of the alliance by the BJP and its leaders, particularly the former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, the Chief Minister said, “I will answer to all the statements made against us, on the floor of the House when I will take the floor test.”
Stating that their governance would not force anyone to take to the streets for protests or demonstrations, he, in a dig at the BJP State president, said, “Since Mr. Yeddyurappa has travelled across the State for past two years to understand the problems, he can share the data and other details about issues relating to farmers or the poor. We will try to address them too.”
Strengthening Lokayukta
When asked about the promise of strengthening the Lokayukta institution, he said the government would ensure that the Lokayukta would be allowed to work freely.
‘Will hold talks’
Mr. Kumaraswamy also announced that he would invite leaders from the Veerashaiva Lingayat community and also those involved in the agitation seeking implementation of the A.J. Sadashiva commission report on internal reservation among the Scheduled Castes for a discussion and try to address the issues.
‘Religious heads should stop politicking’
Religious leaders should stop politicking and concentrate on spreading religion and being a guide to the government, Mr. Kumaraswamy said. His statement came after a seer in north Karnataka spoke ill of the alliance. “Seers should understand their responsibility and I am against politics based on caste. Their (seers’) responsibility is to assume the role of the teachers and guide the government,” he said, and added that he would not involve in appeasing one section or caste in society. “My government is for the 6.5 crore people of the State. Seers should stop making political statements. Otherwise, they should enter politics,” he said.
‘Modi lied on Mahadayi’
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly lied on the Mahadayi issue, and when he had powers to intervene to settle the issue, he did not do it,” Mr. Kumaraswamy said in response to a question on the role of his government in the inter-State water-sharing issue.
“The Prime Minister, before the elections, had announced that he will settle the matter in three months after the elections,” he said.
The Mahadayi tribunal, however, has heard the arguments of the three riparian States and the award is awaited, Mr. Kumaraswamy added.
