Karnataka: Will leave nothing to chance, fight Congress, BJP, says HD Kumaraswamy

Bengaluru: Despite reports favouring a better show for JD(S) in the 2018 elections to the Assembly, the party will fight the Congress and BJP in all seriousness and does not intend to wait for leaders from other political parties to join before finalising its candidates, said JD(S) state president H.D. Kumaraswamy.

Participating in a Meet the Press programme organised by Press Club of Bangalore and Bangalore Reporters' Guild here on Sunday, Kumaraswamy claimed that even the Central government had received a report that JD(S) would emerge as the single largest party in the polls and was trying its best to check the party’s growth. The BJP is planning to implement the ‘Modi Model’in Karnataka as part of this plan, he said.

Reacting sharply to the statement made by CM Siddaramaiah that JD(S) was no longer a viable alternative with leaders like him (Siddaramaiah) and Dr H.C. Mahadevappa (minister) now in the Congress, Kumaraswamy said that in 1999, when Siddaramaiah was party president, the JD(S) could not win even 10 seats. “In 2004, it was through a joint effort that we won 58 seats. After Siddaramaiah quit the party, we have won 29 and 40 seats respectively in 2008 and 2013. In both elections, in more than 30 constituencies, the party lost by a narrow margin of 300 to 3,000 votes. We have been able to manage on our own,” he said.

“Siddaramaiah talks about fulfilling election manifesto promises and providing transparent administration. Does transparency mean ruining constitutional institutions like Lokayukta and KPSC?,” he said.

The former CM felt Siddaramaiah should reflect on how the government has weakened even the ACB by transferring three officials for raiding officers close to him. Taking a dig at the BJP, Kumaraswamy read out various allegations and counter allegations made by BJP leaders against each other when the party split into BJP and KJP.