Bengaluru: Senior leaders of the state unit of Congress have reportedly sought the intervention of central leaders of the party to prevent a repetition of Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy’s emotional outburst by persuading the JD (S) leader and former chief minister Siddaramaiah not to cross swords on issues like waiver of farm loans or supply of adequate rice under ‘Anna Bhagya’ scheme.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, a senior leader based in New Delhi admitted that both leaders had violated ‘coalition dharma’ by airing their differences in public. “It is also known why they are resorting to clashes. Mr Siddaramaiah has written six to eight letters during the last four weeks, three regarding Badami Assembly constituency, while other letters dealt with reduction in prices petrol and diesel and also about increasing quantity of rice under ‘Anna Bhagya’ scheme from five kg to seven kg. So many letters at one go were unwarranted. Definitely this irked Mr Kumaraswamy who made his teary-eyed remarks last week. This was not for the first time, ever since he has sworn-in as CM, he has been making statements even without provocation by our party leaders,” he added.
The leader said Mr Kumaraswamy and his father H. D. Deve Gowda had been making statements in tandem which are definitely putting coalition partners through a strained relationship. "Above all, Mr Gowda's elder son and PWD minister H. D. Revanna's interference in various ministries through effecting transfers or promoting officers without even consulting the minister concerned has strained the relationship among coalition partners. These are provocation from JD(S) side which are forcing Congress leaders to rally behind Mr Siddaramaiah when he raises issues publicly, and which has won him the support of partymen," the leader explained.
The leader felt that placing these issues in front of central leaders, a section of state unit leaders demanded their intervention for reining in both leaders before things go out of hand. “Lok Sabha elections are not far away. Hence, both parties need to develop a working relationship first instead of indulging in squabbling to avoid public embarrassment," the leader added.
