KOPPAL : Countering Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s claim on missed opportunities, JD (S) president H D Deve Gowda said on Wednesday the former would realise that he has climbed up to the top position because of his stint in JD(S).
“Where he (Siddaramaiah) was in politics and who made him deputy chief minister ? Today, he has amassed wealth and that is the reason, he is speaking with arrogance,” Mr Gowda told the media here.
The former prime minister was responding to a recent statement by Mr Siddaramaiah that if he had remained in JD(S) he would not have become the Chief Minister. “I was supposed to have become Chief Minister in 1996 or 2004 . Although I had the support of MLAs, JD(S) leaders prevented me from becoming the Chief Minister and later expelled me from the party,” he had reued.
However, Mr Gowda recalled that soon after he become the Prime Minister in 1996, Mr Siddaramaiah commenced lobbying for the Chief Minister’s post in Karnataka."In a meeting at Karnataka Bhavan in New Delhi, late Mr J H Patel was furious on Mr Siddaramaiah for competing for the Chief Minister’s post against him and amid heated discussion of Janata Parivar leaders, Mr Patel threw his foot wear at Mr Siddaramaiah and shouted at him. Is Siddaramaiah greater leader than late Mr Ramakrishna Hegde and Mr Patel?”
Stating that Mr Siddaramaiah has ascended the Chief Minister’s throne from Congress only because of his grooming in JD(S),Mr Gowda said the former would never become greater than late Mr Hegde and Mr Patel.
He said people of the state are wishing to see JD(S) state president HD Kumaraswamy as the Chief Minister after 2018 Assembly elections and therefore the party has launched 'Kumara Parva' to reach every constituency.
People are frustrated with 10 years rule of BJP and Congress and this time, they decided to give a chance to Mr Kumaraswamy and establish the rule of a regional party to protect interest of the state " he said adding that though the party has the list of candidates to contest next year’s Assembly polls ready, he had advised Mr Kumaraswamy to tour all constituencies and consult party workers before finalising the list of candidates.
Admitting 'minor' differences of opinions within his party in Koppal district, he said he would tour every district of north Karnataka and sort out differences. He, however, declined to comment on JD (S) rebel legislator Gangavati Mr Iqbal ANSARI who identified himself with the Congress, saying, “ He is a big leader and I don't want to comment on him".
