Never resorted to ‘adjustment politics’ in my entire political life, says CM Siddaramaiah

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Asserting that he has never indulged in “adjustment politics” throughout his political life, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday declared in the Legislative Assembly that, if someone proves that he had indeed done so, he would immediately quit politics.

The House also witnessed a banter on who will be the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, when Siddaramaiah took a dig at senior BJP leader Basanagouda Patil Yatnal stating that he has information that the latter will not be chosen for the key position.

Both these issues came up when the Chief Minister was making an intervention to clarify on ‘Gruha Jyothi’ scheme.

“Mr Yatnal, I thought you are a good parliamentarian, but you repeatedly intervening doesn’t make you a good parliamentarian. I know that you are also one of the aspirants to become the Leader of Opposition, please don’t be under the impression that by repeatedly raising objections and intervening you will be made opposition leader,” Siddaramaiah said, as Yatnal raised repeated objections.

“It won’t happen like that, please sit. They (BJP leadership) will make whomever they want as LoP... Don’t be under the wrong impression that you will be made (LoP), just because you repeatedly intervene when someone is speaking...according to my information, they will not make you,” Siddaramaiah added.

Despite this being the second week since the legislature session began, the BJP, which is the principal opposition party in the state, is yet to appoint the Leader of Opposition.

Yatnal reminded Siddaramaiah that ahead of the 2018 Assembly polls, he had repeatedly predicted that JD(S) leader Kumaraswamy would not become the Chief Minister, but after the poll, Kumaraswamy went on to hold the post.

“You are now predicting that I will not become the Leader of the Opposition... it means that I will become 100 per cent,” he said, taking a dig at Siddaramaiah.

As Siddaramaiah reiterated that Yatnal will not become LoP and pointed out that there are other aspirants for the post like senior BJP legislators R Ashoka and C N Ashwath Narayan among others, Yatnal retorted telling the Chief Minister that his attempts to “set fire” within the party by trying to instigate its leaders and create rift between them, will not work out.