Coordination committee chairman and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, whose comments on the JD(S)–Congress coalition had sparked much speculation while he was undergoing naturopathy treatment at Dharmastahala, refused to comment on the brewing controversy after he was discharged on Thursday.
A video clip, in which Mr. Siddaramaiah purportedly expressed doubts about the longevity of the coalition, had surfaced a few days ago, stirring up a hornet’s nest. Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Yoga and Nature Cure Hospital, Shantivana, on the outskirts of Dharmasthala, was the hub of political activity since the clip was aired on a television channel.
Later, a set of leaders loyal to him met Mr. Siddaramaiah, adding to the speculation that there was an effort to destablise the coalition government.
On Thursday, on his way from Dharmasthala to Mangaluru International Airport, Mr. Siddaramaiah told reporters, “If there is anything to tell, I will call you all. I will not speak now.” He refused to speak to the media even after visiting the Manjunatha temple at Dharmasthala.
Mr. Siddaramaiah had admitted himself to the hospital on June 16. After the final session of the treatment on Thursday morning, he visited the temple and met D. Veerendra Heggade, dharmadhikari of Dharmasthala. After lunch at the temple’s guest house, he arrived in Mangaluru at around 3.30 p.m. and visited the newly constructed Karavali Kurubara Sangha building at Kavoor. A good number of people from the Kuruba community greeted him and affirmed their faith in his leadership.
After meeting the local party leaders at the circuit house, Mr. Siddaramaiah left for the airport and reached Bengaluru on Thursday night.
