Instigated revolt! It’s rebel MLA’s word against Siddaramaiah’s

Bengaluru: Rebel Congress legislator Shivaram Hebbar and CLP leader Siddaramaiah were locked in a war of words after the former described the former chief minister as the leader of dissidents and key player in instigating the rebellion, on Thursday.

The Yellapur legislator, who returned home from Mumbai to attend to some personal work, told the media that Mr Siddaramaiah invited them a tad too late for discussion to call off their rebellion, and return to support the government.

“He should have invited us much before this (floor test) happened,” he added.

Mr Hebbar took pot shots at Mr Siddaramaiah, saying rebel legislators had watched his speech on the floor of the Legislative Assembly.

“May God give him strength. I apologise to the people for causing inconvenience to voters in the constituency. We will change our stand. We are confident that speaker K.R. Ramesh Kumar will accept our resignations.”

In response to Mr Hebbar's attack, Mr Siddaramaiah said it was a bundle of lies and misleading statements.

“I will give a fitting reply if they come and speak in my presence.”

In a series of tweets, the Kuruba strongman said these rebels were trying to “shift the blame to me but facts will surface once the dust settles. Media houses are reporting that few rebel MLAs have claimed that I instigated them to resign and destabilise our government. This is nothing but a false allegation with mala fide intention. I will give them a befitting reply if they repeat the same in my presence,” adding “rebel MLAs are trying to shift the blame to me after public backlash against them for betraying and back-stabbing both the electorate and the party. Everything will be clear when the dust settles but by then they would have bitten the dust,” he added.

Recalling his tenure as Chief Minister, Mr Siddaramaiah said many baseless allegations were made against him - “a venom” he digested to serve people with good intent.”

“Time will answer everything! Sathyameva Jayathe!!”, Mr Siddaramaiah added.

As chairman of the coordination committee of the coalition government, Mr Siddaramaiah was charged with not letting JD (S) and state Congress presidents to be part of the penal led by him. State JD (S) president-turned-rebel MLA A H Vishwanath has often targeted Mr Siddaramaiah for not bringing out the common minimum programme, as agreed upon by the two parties at the time of forming the coalition government. Mr Vishwanath had also charged him with betraying JD (S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda, ensuring that he trusts the Congress during the Lok Sabha elections and then working for his defeat from Tumakuru constituency at the his age of 87 years.