Bengaluru: Energy minister D.K. Shivakumar, who is considered a close confident of former Chief Minister S.M. Krishna, has pleaded with the veteran Congress leader not to leave the party.
Speaking to reporters at the Chief Minister's official residence 'Krishna' on Friday, Mr Shivakumar said, "It is not an appropriate time to meet Mr Krishna, but I would request him not to press ahead with the hasty decision to quit the party. I am shocked by his resignation and have till not come out of the shock", Mr. Shivakumar said.
Once considered Mr Krishna’s ‘blue-eyed boy’, Mr Shivakumar belongs to the same Vokkaliga community and was a minister in his Cabinet when Mr Krishna was chief minister from 1999-2004,
"Our wish is that Mr Krishna should continue in the Congress. I will not react to the sharp criticism from a section of party leaders against Krishna for his decision to quit the party, but I have faith that he will continue in the party", Mr. Shivakumar added.
Mr. Shivakumar, who is the in-charge of Mr Krishna’s home district Mandya, appealed the Congress workers not to quit the party following the resignation of Mr Krishna.
"Workers should not panic, I would request them not to take a decision to quit the party, because, everyone will not get an opportunity to hold the Congress flag high", he said.
Mr. Shivakumar criticized former Chief Minister and JD(S) state president H.D. Kumaraswamy's prediction that the Congress government in the state would collapse before the 2018 Assembly elections because of internal dissent and early polls would become inevitable in the state.
"No one will take Kumaraswamy words seriously. If Mr H.D. Deve Gowda (JD-S supremo) gives such a statement, everyone will take his statement with all seriousness but there is no substance in Kumaraswamy’s statement", Mr Shivakumar added.
Siddu opens doors for rebel JD(S) MLAs: You’re welcome to join us
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has asserted that the Congress will welcome rebel legislators of JD(S) if they opt to join the party.
Addressing mediapersons in Hubballi on Friday, he claimed that all these expelled leaders have already held talks with him about this. Stating that a decision will be taken on inducting these MLAs at appropriate time, he said that he will consult the party high command before arriving at a decision in this regard.
Responding to a query on selection of candidate for the by-election to the Nanjangud Assembly constituency, he claimed that Mr Kalale Keshavamurthy, who unsuccessfully contested the previous elections on JD(S) ticket, has met him and a decision will be taken on finalizing his candidature after discussion with central leaders of the party. Reacting sharply to JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy's prediction of early election to the Assembly this year, he asserted that the state government will complete its five-year term and also expressed confidence that the party will come back to power next year.
Refusing to react to the criticism made by Congress leader Janardhan Poojary who had demanded his resignation, Siddaramaiah said he has been elected as CM by the Legislature party and Congress high command. Inaugurating Karnataka State Olympic Games in Dharwad, he said that government will hold such sports event at least once in two years. He emphasized the need of conducting sports gene test for children to recognize their talent.
