We are not beggars: HD Kumaraswamy to Congress, over seat sharing for LS polls

Mysuru: Is this mere sabre rattling which parties engage in before a hard political bargain is struck? The Congress and JD(S) war of words over seat sharing for the coming Lok Sabha polls continued on Tuesday with Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy curtly remarking that his party was not a ‘beggar’ when asked about the Congress move to give them at the most seven Lok Sabha seats of the 28 in Karnataka.

The CM was reacting to a reported decision taken by the Congress party’s campaign committee on Monday and remarked, “If the Congress has decided to give us three or five or seven seats, I would like to say that we are not beggars. I would like to clearly state this.”

Mr Kumaraswamy however added, “Congress leaders have not discussed this with me, so I have not thought of it.”

Not to be left behind, former CM and Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Siddaramaiah said they too were not beggers. Since the seat-sharing formula is yet to be worked out in consultation with JD(S) supremo H.D. Deve Gowda, the question of ‘beggars’ does not arise, he said, adding the Congress has already decided that the LS seats it currently holds, will not be given to the JD(S) at any cost.