Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, who had vacated his room in a five-star hotel following criticism from various quarters, once again checked into the hotel on Monday with sources saying he wants to work out a strategy to save the coalition government with the trust vote slated to be taken up on Thursday. Recently, the CM was targeted for taking a permanent room in the hotel, despite having a house in JP Nagar and an official bungalow allotted to him in the city.
The opposition BJP slammed him saying he was staying in a star hotel where ordinary citizens are not allowed. This issue had hogged the limelight at the national level too with Mr Kumaraswamy branded as a 'five star CM'. Following this, the CM shifted to his J P Nagar residence where hundreds of people have been flocking to meet him daily. It remains to be seen if the shifting to the hotel again will prove to be any luckier for him.
Gowda’s no to HDK’s Mumbai visit
The ruling coalition's effort to pacify the rebel MLAS now staying in Mumbai and make them withdraw their resignations using the 'good offices' of Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, was reportedly dropped after Janata Dal (S) supremo H.D. Deve Gowda advised his son not to go to Mumbai and make any such attempt. On Sunday, media circles were abuzz with reports that Mr Kumaraswamy, his deputy Dr G. Parameshwar and some Congress leaders were set to fly to Mumbai and attempt what their cabinet colleague, D.K. Shivakumar tried last week but failed. The CM and his deputy knew about the rebels' refusal to meet any of the coalition leaders but still decided to take a risk and visit the hotel where the dissident MLAs are staying. But on Monday morning, the rebels submitted a fresh letter to the local DCP in Mumbai seeking police protection. In the letter, they made it clear that they would not like to meet any Congress leader and added that on the contrary, they would feel threatened if Congress leaders and JD (S) leaders visited them in Mumbai. On coming to know about the letter, Mr Gowda reportedly advised his son not to take the risk of going to Mumbai as it would send out a wrong signal and show the coalition in poor light following which Mr Kumaraswamy dropped his plan, sources said.
