Cong leader says colleague ‘troubling’ Kumaraswamy

BENGALURU: Even before the episode of the Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy breaking down in public — declaring that he was being forced to become ‘Vishakanta’ (Shiva who drank poison for the welfare of others) — could die down, his stand has been backed by a senior Congress leader. Kumaraswamy’s public outburst was seen as an indication of his unhappiness with coalition partner Congress for subjecting him to coalition pressures and now a former speaker and senior Congress leader KB Koliwad has backed the CM’S stand.

Koliwad on Monday told the media: “It is some Congress leaders only who are troubling the CM. At this time I won’t say who they are but everybody knows they are the ones who didn’t want the coalition government to be formed in the first place and are boiling internally and thus are troubling Kumaraswamy. This is not a question of Kumaraswamy’s (survival) but that of the coalition government and Congress high command’s direction, according to which it is working. (Mallikarjun) Kharge is supporting, Parameshwara is supporting (the government) and you know who is not (hinting at former CM Siddaramaiah).”

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president Dinesh Gundu Rao, however, refused to comment on Koliwad alluding to the role of Siddaramaiah. He said, “It is his personal opinion. We will take everybody along. There is no difference of opinion. A CM needs to be strong.” Congress leader A Manju said, “We have not given any poision to CM. In fact we gave him chief ministership, Congress gave him all the portfolios including finance demanded by JD(S). It does not behove of a CM to cry in public . ”

Kumaraswamy’s cabinet colleague Venkatrao Nadagouda said, “Anybody who has humanity sometimes cries when they are trying to fulfill promises inspite of difficult circumstances. Too much should not be read into it.”

The opposition BJP, however, said that the CM should get an ‘award for acting’. Senior political analyst Mahadeva Prakash said that Kumaraswamy’s public tears were also to send a message to the people that he was not being allowed to take decisions he would like. “This is also to get credit for the loan waiver. Both coalition partners are keen to take credit for it. Congress wants to ensure CM and JD(S) alone will not walk away with all the credit and thus the fight and tears.”