H D Kumaraswamy, Siddaramaiah locked in Twitter spat

Bengaluru: Karnataka chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy’s remark that veteran Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge should have been offered the top post long ago has triggered a twitter debate between him and the ruling coalition coordination committee chief Siddaramaiah.

Siddaramiah

Kumaraswamy’s statement about Mr Kharge had come at a time when there was growing clamour within the Congress for Siddaramaiah to become chief minister once again, resulting in a public spat between the Congress and JDS.

Mr Kumaraswamy’s comment was even seen as an attempt to checkmate CLP leader Siddaramaiah, who had hinted on his ambition for the top job.

In a measured response to chief minister’s statement, Mr Siddaramaiah on Thursday said, public works department minister and Kumaraswamy’s older brother H.D. Revanna too has the capability for the top job.

“What Kumaraswamy has said is right. Mallikarjun Kharge has capability not only to become chief minister, but even higher position. There are several people in Congress and JD(S) who have the capability to become CM.

H.D. Revanna is also one among them. For every thing time has to come,” Mr Siddaramaiah said in a tweet. Mr Kumaraswamy said Kharge should have become chief minister was deep from his heart, based on decades old political reality in Karnataka, and giving any political colour to it or analysing by misunderstanding it is “not healthy”.

“I don’t have a shabby interest to get political advantage through this statement,” he said.