Bengaluru: In an indication that the Congress-JD(S) coalition could be close to an implosion and could face its biggest test yet ahead of parliamentary polls, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Monday offered to quit if his style of functioning was not acceptable to some Congress leaders, signaling that his own patience with running the fractious partnership was also running thin.
Having faced constant challenges to his government over the last eight months of his tenure from rebels in the Congress party, Mr Kumaraswamy seemed in no mood to entertain more criticism as he responded to claims by some Congress legislators on Sunday that he was doing little for the state's development and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had done a better job while in office.
“I don't want to stick to my chair. Congress and JD(S) leaders decided to form the government to give good governance and we are doing a good job.
Deputy Chief Minister, I and several ministers are working hard. For Bengaluru, we have already taken a decision to go ahead with the PRR, elevated corridor and suburban railway. We expect an investment of over one lakh crore in the city,'' he told reporters here.
The Chief Minister's outburst is yet another indication of the simmering rivalry between him and Mr Siddaramaiah, according to party sources. The
JD(S) has long suspected that the former Chief Minister was behind the Congress MLAs hobnobbing with the BJP and triggering the Operation Lotus scare, to keep Mr Kumaraswamy in check.
With the Parliamentary elections now approaching, Mr Siddaramaiah's supporters are reportedly feeling uneasy as the "original" Congressmen, like Mr D K Shivakumar and Mr Dinesh Gundurao are steadily regaining the ground they had lost to him, when he was Chief Minister.
Also, with the JD(S) bargaining for at least 10 to 12 parliamentary seats, including Bengaluru North that its party surpremo, H D Deve Gowda is reportedly eyeing for himself, they are feeling more threatened, they reveal.
