Siddaramaiah will do nothing to rock Cong-JD(S) coalition govt: Eshwar Khandre
Since his elevation as working president of the KPCC after formation of the JD(S)-Congress coalition government, Mr Eshwar Khandre has been actively involved in safeguarding the interests of the party as well as the government. He has often been assigned the demanding task of talking to dissident Congress leaders and counselling them to retain their ties with the party. A dynamic leader, Mr Khandre travels tirelessly to discharge the responsibility assigned to him and also to gear up the party for the Lok Sabha election. He spoke to DC on an array of issues.
There is a feeling that the coalition government is tottering. Your comments.
It is not so, the government is very strong. Since the formation of the coalition government, the BJP has been trying hard to destabilise the government. They have no faith in democracy. The people have not given them the mandate. The two secular parties have come together keeping national as well as societal interests in mind. They are trying to topple the government through anti-constitutional means. They have little concern for the welfare of the people; they are only after power and they have totally abdicated their responsibility of being a responsible Opposition party. There are some differences of opinion but the coalition government is strong enough to withstand them.
But an opinion is gaining ground that the Siddaramaiah group is trying to rock the boat?
Mr Siddaramaiah's role in the formation of this government and its continuance is immense. It's totally unacceptable to say that his supporters, with their provocative statements are trying to destabilize this government. Mr Siddaramaiah is contributing in all possible ways to strengthen the government. So there is no need to get worried over speculative reports.
Many Congress legislators are themselves expressing their dissatisfaction and this has necessitated the intervention of the high command.
What are they expressing? They are of the opinion that in their constituencies, developmental work is not taking place at the pace they desire. It’s ours as well the ministers' responsibility to attend to them; we will attend to them.
Mr Siddaramaiah may not be trying directly to unsettle this government; but he is allegedly trying through his followers.
Mr Siddaramaiah is known for his candidness and he is not the one who would instigate his followers to bat for him. They are canards spread by his political opponents. The Congress is a big parivar and there is no groupism within it.
The Congress and JD(S) have come together to prevent the BJP from forming the government. But this coalition arrangement has been detrimental to the interests of Mr Siddaramaiah as the Congress base is getting undermined in the Old Mysuru region benefitting the JD(S).
Leaders like Mallikarjun Kharge and Siddaramaiah are pan Karnataka leaders; it is not proper to portray them as regional leaders. It is wrong to say that the Congress is getting weakened in this region or that region. It has lost sometimes but has bounced back with more vigour. The Congress may have suffered a setback in the Old Mysuru region now but it will bounce back.
The Kuruba leader (Siddaramaiah) is said to have not given up his desire to become the CM again.
This coalition government has been formed with the consent and confidence of Mr Siddaramaiah in the larger interests of keeping the communal BJP away from power. So Mr Siddaramaiah will do nothing to weaken this coalition arrangement. All reports in this regard are false.
There are reports that the high command which is unhappy with the role of Siddaramaiah, has counselled him to keep his supporters under check.
The reports are false. The high command had called Mr Siddaramaiah to discuss the preparations for the LS elections.
Mr Kumaraswamy recently threatened to resign from his post if Congressmen continue to attack him. Have Congressmen crossed their limits or has Mr Kumaraswamy over reacted?
The situation has not worsened to the extent of forcing Mr Kumaraswamy to offer to tender his resignation. Sometimes all of us have the tendency to over react. The high command has taken note of the developments and has issued clear instructions to the legislators. There is no need for panic.
Mr Deve Gowda has expressed his resentment wondering if this is the way to run a coalition government?
Sometimes in a fit of rage, such views are expressed; there is no need to blow things out of proportion by reacting to such comments.
A tug-of-war is taking place between the JD(S) and Congress over fielding their respective candidates in Mysuru, Mandya and Hassan Lok Sabha seats. Will the Congress give away the seats to the JD(S)?
The prevailing opinion is that the coalition partner should field their respective candidates in the constituencies where their base is strong. The basic premise is that this coalition arrangement should last long and the UPA should get more seats in the coming elections. Our general secretary Mr K.C. Venugopal is coming here on February 6 when discussions will be held on finalising the seats for each partner.
In case no consensus is reached on these crucial seats, will there be triangular contests?
I'm quite confident of striking a deal and jointly facing the LS elections.
What action will be initiated against the four dissident legislators to whom notices have been served?
The party is in touch with them and I'm hopeful these legislators will return to their party.
How long can you keep your flock together? Since the formation of coalition government, nothing other than the farm loan waiver is being talked about. In many districts, the in-charge ministers have not even bothered to visit the drought-hit areas leave alone initiating relief work.
It's not true. The media is only focusing on some negative issues. On the positive side, all the programme launched during the previous government's tenure, are being continued now. Moreover Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1 crore has been released to each constituency to fight drought. Irrigation work is going on but unfortunately we are not getting publicity as the opposition is misleading the public.
In Hyderabad-Karnataka region, there is a demand to give the Raichur LS seat to JD(S)...
In my personal view, the sitting Congress MP Mr B.V. Naik has done a good job and in all probability. he will be our candidate.
In so far as Bidar LS seat is concerned, there are rumours that the high command favours fielding you. Will you contest?
I'm a sitting MLA and working president of the KPCC. I'm trying my best to discharge both responsibilities. Let us see what the high command decides. Whoever be the candidate, we will make a concerted effort to wrest the seat from BJP this time.
