BENGALURU: A day after two legislators belonging to his party quit the Assembly, Congress legislature party (CLP) leader Siddaramaiah accused BJP leaders of adopting a different strategy to form their government in Karnataka.
The former chief minister, who has spearheaded efforts to contain the damage caused by Mr Anand Singh and Mr Ramesh Jarkiholi, both former ministers, told the media here on Tuesday that BJP leaders had instigated these legislators to quit as their party was eager to wrest power. Though these leaders are claiming that they are not in touch with Congress MLAs, they are expressing confidence of forming the government when ruling party legislators resign on their own.
“It’s the BJP’s conspiracy. They (BJP leaders) are the ones who are trying to lure our MLAs. They have thirst for power, so they are making such attempts. Amit Shah himself is doing this. The Prime Minister is also involved in this. To pull down this government, they are offering money, they are offering power,” he charged.
Mr Siddaramaiah, however, expressed confidence that the coalition government would complete its term despite efforts by BJP leaders to dislodge the 13 month-old administration. “For the last one year, they have been trying to topple the government but did not succeed. Again, they have started, they will not succeed,” he added.
Reacting to higher education minister, G.T. Deve Gowda's statement that the BJP top brass was not involved in any attempt to topple the government Mr Siddaramaiah said: “He should speak after gathering all information.”
Much to the chagrin of leaders of the coalition, Mr Deve Gowda gave a clean chit to Mr Shah and Mr Modi saying they were addressing issues of national importance.
“They (PM and Shah) are thinking about what to do for the nation, on Kashmir issue, how to deal with America and China. Mr Modi has promised a farmer-friendly budget on July 5. No one should blame the BJP leadership, he told the media in Mysuru.
Mr Siddaramaiah was confident these two MLAs would not defect to the BJP but remain in Congress even if they pressed Speaker K.R. Ramesh Kumar to accept their resignation letters. “I am not able to reach both of them (Singh and Jarkiholi) over the phone. I will speak to them and convince (to remain in Congress). According to me, no MLA will go. Our government is hundred per cent safe,” he added.
