‘Siddaramaiah’s arrogance destroyed us’
Krishnappa Bheemappa Koliwad was the speaker of the just dissolved Karnataka’s lower house. Seventy-three-year-old Koliwad was one of the big names from Congress to lose along with several ministers in Siddaramaiah’s cabinet. Koliwad, a Lingayat, lost his traditional Ranibennur seat to R Shankar the only candidate to win from his KPJP party. After the loss, the former speaker has been lashing out at the former chief minister Siddaramaiah and he spoke to Venkatesha Babu on the reasons for it. Edited Excerpts:
Why are you angry with Siddaramaiah?
It is Siddaramaiah’s attitude and arrogance which has put the Congress in the current predicament it is in Karnataka. His rank casteism favouring members of his own community (Kurubas or traditional shepherds) and more importantly rewarding only yes men has hurt the party. He has given 15-20 tickets to his community members. What was the need to give a ticket to Revanna (transport minister in Siddu’s cabinet and a fellow casteman) when he was already an MLC (member of legislative council)?
The CM’s attitude towards others (hinting at Vokkaligas and Lingayats) made them turning against the party. Did dividing Lingayats help the Congress anyway? I kept telling them not to do (grant Lingayats a separate minority religion status), but he would only listen to his chamchas and yesmen.
So did the Congress government fail to deliver?
No,no…I think we had good programmes and policies, our work was good but one man’s dictatorship and arrogance has brought us down.
Are you saying all this because you lost elections?
My one seat doesn’t matter. I have won five elections and lost five elections. I won an election in 1972 when he was not even in politics. He is a baccha (child) in front of me. He was the one unable to take heat ran from his constituency (Chamundeshwari) to contest from another (Badami). His attitude resulted in defeat (in Chamundeshwar) and he barely won in (Badami). He tried to prevent me getting even the ticket this time. I reached out to Rahul (Gandhi, Congress President) and got it. He only likes to surround himself with yesmen.
BENGALURU:
Are you planning to quit the party?
Why should I? Congress is not anybody’s personal property. I have been a loyal member since 1969 and helped build the party in the state. I am not a party hopper like him. (Siddaramaiah was in JDS till 2005). My only appeal to the Congress president is please don’t make him (Siddaramaiah) the state unit chief or CLP leader. He will destroy the party in the state. He has no intention of making Kumaraswamy the chief minister. I agree that to stop communal forces (read BJP), we need to do everything possible. But Siddaramaiah is not the man to do it. His political career is over.