The BJP has accused former chief minister and JD(S) leader H. D. Kumaraswamy of bigamy. On its Twitter handle, Karnataka unit of the BJP said: “Signal jump, breach of trust, corruption, nepotism and more than anything else bigamy. Should H. D. Kumaraswamy, who always ridicules mistakes of others, not be careful about these things?”
Karnataka has been witnessing personal attacks in the runup to by-elections to two Assembly seats. On October 19, BJP State president Nalin Kumar Kateel had described Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as a drug addict.
This was preceded by the Congress describing Prime Minister Narendra Modi as an ‘illiterate’ on October 17. However, within hours, KPCC president D. K. Shivakumar expressed regret and got the tweet deleted.
'Focus on real issues'
Warning BJP leaders against raking up personal issues, Mr. Kumaraswamy said that instead they should focus on solving social problems. "Speaking about personal lives will not help anyone, but only deflects the real issues," the former Chief Minister told reporters in Sindgi. "I neither fear nor will be disturbed by such statements," he said.
"Becareful. I can also speak on personal lives since everyone has a history. We cannot even discuss things that they have done. Do not make me speak. I have information on all. BJP leaders will become a laughing stock if I speak on what BJP State unit president Nalin Kumar Kateel has done to families of senior pracharaks in Mangaluru," he said.
On the allegation of bigamy, Mr. Kumaraswamy said, "I have not hidden anything. I have spoken publicly and during Assembly discussions on my mistakes. Some things do happen sometimes in life. It is in our hands to reform. I had taken a wrong path, and I have rectified it."
On BJP legislator Basanagouda Patil Yatnal's statement about his life, he challenged, "Let them reveal whatever they have. I have not hidden anything, and I have not committed fraud on society or any individual."
When asked why he was at the receiving end of personal attacks, Mr. Kumaraswamy said, "I do not compromise as I have fought openly. They fear about JD(S) growth and the target of 123 seats in the next Assembly elections."
