Kumaraswamy a ' political villain,' more frustrated than BJP: CM

NT Correspondent

Mysuru: Dubbing JDS (S) state president H D Kumaraswamy a "political villain," Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday claimed that he was "more frustrated" than the BJP.

He hit out at the former Chief Minister for his recent attacks directed towards him and his government.

"If there is anyone who is a political villain, it is him, it is Mr Kumaraswamy. He has targeted me for watching a cricket match. But when his government (Congress-JD(S) coalition government) was about to collapse, he was sitting in America for a week. What should we call him?" Siddaramaiah said, in response to a question on Kumaraswamy allegedly comparing the Chief Minister to villains in the epic Mahabharata.

Speaking to reporters here, he claimed that, during his entire one year and two months as Chief Minister, Kumaraswamy spent time in a luxury hotel in Bengaluru.

To a question that Kumaraswamy has accused him of destabilising his government leading to its collapse in July, 2019, Siddaramaiah pointed out that earlier, the JD(S) leader had on record, in the Assembly, blamed the BJP for his government's collapse.

"He had made this statement accusing the BJP for his government's collapse, during the trust vote in the Assembly, but now he is saying different things and is blaming me, did he mislead the House then" he said, adding Kumaraswamy is "more frustrated" than the BJP and hence was making such statements.

In the May elections this year to the 224-member Karnataka Assembly, the Congress bagged 135 seats, the BJP 66 and the JD(S) 19. Last month, the JD (S) joined the BJP-led NDA; the two parties said they will have an alliance for the Lok Sabha polls next year.

Lashing out at Kumaraswamy for calling Siddaramaiah 'Mir Sadiq', Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar too, said the JD(S) leader had blamed the BJP for the collapse of his government and questioned as to how he has joined hands with the same party now.

Mir Sadiq, a minister during Tipu Sultan's rule, conspired with the British. His name is used when calling someone a traitor.

Pointing out as to how Siddaramaiah, the Congress party, its legislators and leadership stood by him during the then coalition government, Shivakumar, who is also the state Congress chief, accused Kumaraswamy of now "hugging" the same BJP which was responsible for its collapse and challenged him for a debate during the Assembly session in Belagavi and even for a media debate.

"...Who spoke what... let's bring things on record for future generations to know...earlier I had kept quiet abiding by a few (Vokkaliga) community leaders, but I have to speak now, as we too have self-esteem like you," he added. Both Kumaraswamy and Shivakumar belong to the Vokkaliga community.

Amid talks about Cabinet reshuffle, CM says Cong central leadership will decide

Amid talks about possible Cabinet reshuffle within the ruling party circles, and Ministerial aspirants openly expressing their aspirations, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday said the Congress central leadership would decide on this.

Charging the BJP with pushing the state to financial bankruptcy and debt while in power, Siddaramaiah said he was ready to present a white paper in the legislative Assembly on the financial position of the state during Congress and saffron party's tenure.

"There is nothing wrong in aspiring to be a Minister, but whether to expand the cabinet or to do anything else in this regard, it is for the high command to decide. It is not us who will decide," he said in response to a question on the possibility of the exercise and several legislators aspiring to become a Minister.

Government Chief Whip in the Legislative Assembly, Ashok Pattan had recently claimed that a cabinet reshuffle was on cards and counted himself as a ministerial aspirant.

The MLA from Ramdurg had said AICC general secretaries Randeep Singh Surjewala and K C Venugopal have assured him that there will be a Cabinet reshuffle after two-and-a-half years, in which senior leaders like him will be accommodated.

Making a case for himself to become a minister, Shantinagar MLA N A Haris too has said, "Not tomorrow, I should have become a minister yesterday. I am qualified for it."

Responding to a question on opposition BJP calling his administration "ATM government" and accusing it of corruption through "collection", Siddaramaiah denied the charge and termed it 'false.'

Accusing BJP of 'operation lotus', he said, "where did they get the money from? They have made Karnataka bankrupt, who is responsible? They did not generate po