HDK takes a dig at DKS for his alleged CM ambition

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: In a sarcastic remark, JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy on Saturday offered to extend the support of all the 19 JD(S) MLAs if Congress leader D K Shivakumar wishes to become the Karnataka Chief Minister.

The JD(S) state president wondered why the grand old party needed to bring JD(S) MLAs into its fold when it already had 136 MLAs in the 224-member assembly.

Shivakumar, who is deputy chief minister and also Congress state president, is considered to be a contender for the chief ministerial position. Kumaraswamy's reaction came amid Congress claims that many of his party's MLAs were willing to join the grand old party.

"Why should I be an impediment? Let us do one thing. Let him (DCM D K Shivakumar) be the Chief Minister tomorrow morning…. I will get the support of all 19 people (JD(S) MLA)," Kumaraswamy said in a press conference.

The former chief minister said, "Why should they (Congress leaders) unnecessarily say, ‘10 people are coming, five people are coming', ‘They (JD-S MLAs) are ready' and ‘discussions (with JD(S) MLAs) have already taken place under the leadership of (former minister) Krishnappa'. Didn't they say such things before the Media?"

He claimed that the Congress leaders were standing in front of JD(S) MLAs with ‘applications' asking them to join Congress.

According to Kumaraswamy, Congress leaders had contacted JD(S) MLA G T Deve Gowda with an offer to make him minister and "do something for his son too".