Assembly witnesses interesting debate on Siddu-Bommai friendship

NT Correspondent

The state Assembly witnessed an interesting discussion about Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah’s personal rapport with Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, politics and ideology.

During a debate on the state budget for 2022-23 here on Monday, Speaker Visveshwar Hegde Kageri pulled Siddaramaiah’s leg saying Bommai was his good friend and yet he had launched a barrage of attacks on the CM. The former CM replied that he knew Bommai for many years but had always drawn a line between friendship and politics. “I like you but I have my reservations about your thinking and the RSS ideology. Apart from politics, friendship will always continue”.

Revenue Minister R. Ashok intervened to say that CM Bommai had been influenced by the RSS more than anything else. The RSS is an organisation that makes one cultured which was why Bommai had given a beautiful budget, he remarked.

Siddaramaiah then said Bommai joined the BJP in 2008 and the RSS has had more impact on Basavaraj than his father late S.R. Bommai. Turning to Ashok, he said, “See those who have joined the BJP from other parties have become CM. On the other hand, original BJP leaders like you and K.S. Eshwarappa have not been able to become CM,” he quipped.

Ashok replied that it was because of sheer luck that Bommai became CM. It was something like Siddaramaiah becoming CM after joining the Congress Party quitting the JD(S), he said.