Bangalore: The acrimony between the Congress and the JDS in Karnataka reached a new high with Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy threatening to step down Monday, asserting he never ‘craved’ for power. His comments a day after ruling Congress MLA, ST Somashekhar demanded that Siddaramaiah be made the Chief Minister again.
Somashekhar had claimed that development works had come to a grinding halt here and other parts of the state while addressing a gathering, Sunday.
Kumaraswamy reacted strongly to the comments. “If my way of functioning is not acceptable, I am ready to resign. I don’t crave for position. Our government has taken up projects worth Rs 1,00,000 crore including development of suburban train services, elevated corridor and peripheral ring road,” the Chief Minister told reporters after dedicating six-coach metro rail on ‘Green Line’ at the Mantri Square Metro Station.
A red-faced Karnataka Congress president Dinesh Gundu Rao, who too was present at the function, said such statements by the Congress MLAs were not acceptable and a showcause notice would be issued to Somashekhar.
“Today Rs 8,000 crore worth work is happening. I condemn such public statements and the party will issue a showcause notice to those who make such comments,” Rao told reporters.
“This morning I saw ST Somashekhar’s statement. It breaches the disciplinary line. The coalition government has done lots of development work in Bangalore,” he added.
Noting that Somashekhar was chairperson of the Bengaluru Development Authority, Rao said, “His public statement is inappropriate. I condemn it and I will issue a showcause notice to him.”
AICC general secretary and Karnataka in-charge KV Venugopal said in a tweet, “Instructed Karnataka PCC to send a showcause notice to Somashekhar MLA seeking clarification on his controversial remarks. If the explanation is not satisfactory, party will take strong disciplinary action. @INCIndia will not tolerate any such indiscipline statements and actions.”
Siddaramaiah on the other hand sais, the coalition government will stay for five years and there is no question of him becoming Chief Minister.
PTI