In a rebuttal of Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy’s statement that veteran Congress leader and MP Mallikarjun Kharge should have become the CM of Karnataka long ago, Congress Legislature Party leader and former CM Siddaramaiah said current PWD Minister and Mr. Kumaraswamy’s elder brother H.D. Revanna is also eligible for the CM post, adding that Mr. Kharge is appropriate for higher political posts.
At a by-poll campaign in Chincholi assembly constituency in Kalaburagi district on Tuesday, Mr. Kumaraswamy said Mr. Kharge’s services were not given enough recognition by his party. He said that Mr. Kharge should have been made a Chief Minister long back .
“Mr. Kharge had missed opportunities to become the CM many times in the past,” CM Kumaraswamy said.
It is in response to this that Mr. Siddaramaiah wrote on Twitter: “There are many leaders in the Congress and JD(S) who are chief ministerial material and one of them is Mr. Kumaraswamy’s brother H.D. Revanna. But for everything, right time should come.”
Reactions to Siddaramaiah
Reacting to Siddaramaiah’s statement, Mr. Kumaraswamy said “it’s not good to give political colour to my statement. Mr. Kharge is tall leader of the State.” His statement should not be interpreted for political benefits, Mr. Kumaraswamy said.
Meanwhile, Minister Revanna said the CM’s chair was not vacant and his younger brother Kumaraswamy is occupying it now. “He (Mr .Siddaramaiah) made his tweet out of respect towards me since we have known each other for a long time.”
Mr. Revanna said: “I am not an aspirant for the CM’s post. I am working as the Minister as per the guidance of CM and former PM H.D. Deve Gowda,” adding that he has known Mr. Siddaramaiah for the past 25 years.
Minister Zameer Ahmed said “all MLAs desire to become CM. But our leader is Mr. Siddaramaiah and our CM is Mr. Kumaraswamy".
The JD (S) and Congress formed the coalition government in the State following a fractured mandate after the 2018 assembly polls. Both Congress and JD(S) leaders have been making allegations and counter-allegations on several issues for the last few days.
