Kumaraswamy indicates return to Karnataka politics, eyes 'pro-people' govt in 2028
Hassan (PTI): Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Saturday hinted at his return to state politics, saying he would devote more time to Karnataka in the days ahead to bring a "pro-people government" here.
Expressing confidence that there will be a "pro-people government" in the state after the 2028 Assembly polls, the JD(S) leader said, people want to remove the "corrupt" Congress government here.
He also asserted that no one can "finish off" the JD(S), targeting the ruling Congress party and its leaders in the state.
The JD(S), which has been an ally of the BJP since the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, on Saturday held a rally at Hassan to mark the party's silver jubilee celebrations, which was attended by party patriarch and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda. Hassan is Gowda's home district.
"I'm not someone who had a desire to enter politics. I came to politics accidentally and became the chief minister of this state twice accidentally, and did pro-people work. I couldn't fulfil the unfinished tasks of (his father) H D Deve Gowda--especially to improve the livelihood of farmers-- during my short stint in power. It is my responsibility to play my role more in the state in the days ahead," Kumaraswamy said in response to a question on his return to state politics.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the rally here, he said Karnataka is a prosperous state and to end various forms of misrule and ensure a peaceful life for its people, there is a need for a pro-people government.
"With this intention, I want to give more time to Karnataka in the days ahead....(however) it is not in my hand, it is the will of God and the people, I will bow down to what people desire," he added.
Hitting out at political opponents, Kumaraswamy said, "They claim that they have finished off the JD(S). Probably, they are afraid of our party; they are not afraid of other parties. So they want to finish off this farming community's party. It has lakhs of loyal party workers, and no one can finish it off."
"There is an uncivilised government in the state. Everyday people are witnessing several kinds of corruption and illegal activities under this government. To remove this government, we want to send a message from Hassan," he added.
Later in the day, addressing the rally, Kumaraswamy said he has already been the CM of the state twice, despite JD(S) not having complete majority. He said correcting the course in which the state is moving, was a bigger challenge before him, than becoming the CM in 2028.
"Party leaders like Nikhil Kumaraswamy (son and party youth wing chief) and others have said (during the rally) that Kumaraswamy should become the Chief Minister in 2028. The bigger challenge before me, than becoming the CM, is -- to correct the direction in which the state today is going and the way in which the government is functioning -- correcting this is the responsibility of all of us," he said.
Noting that the state is prosperous and there is no shortage of funds here, the union minister said still there is no development here.
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India is going to do this more and more often: Sanju Samson
New Delhi (PTI): Sanju Samson, whose exploits fuelled India's recent T20 World Cup triumph, on Sunday asserted that the country is poised to rule global cricket for years to come.
Speaking on the sidelines of the BCCI Naman Awards 2026 in the capital, Samson also likened his exploits during India's triumphal march to the title to a movie, and said it was yet to sink in.
"Not yet, I am still like, actually, when I get up in the morning I'm like 'has it really happened'. So honestly, that's the feeling," Samson said when asked about last Sunday's triumph.
He added, "But I feel that in the coming years with the quality of players we have in our country, this is going to be repeated. It's not going to be, okay, it has happened once in a while. The amount of players which are coming up and definitely India is going to do this more and more often."
Samson was named Player of the Tournament in the 2026 T20 World Cup after a historic campaign, scoring 321 runs at a strike rate of nearly 200 in just five innings to lead India to the title.
Despite not playing initially, he delivered 80-plus scores in the must-win Super Eights match against the West Indies, the semi-final against England, and in the final against New Zealand.
Samson further said he has been dreaming to help India win a World Cup.
"Absolutely, I think you can only dream where you want to go, but you can't definitely ride the path towards it. So my life or my career has been one of the best examples. I definitely wanted to do this a couple of years ago.
"I want to win a World Cup for my country, but it had its own plan, its own script. So, but more like a movie. I enjoyed it," Samson said.
The unassuming star from Kerala has been toiling for years to leave an impact on the game, and the T20 World Cup was his finest moment.
"As I said before, I wanted to do something like this, then I got pulled out of my journey, and then suddenly, the team wanted me to come and contribute, and that's when I actually mentally flipped a bit... I think, before that, in the New Zealand series, the focus was all about myself.
"But in the World Cup, the focus is all about the team. I think what does a team require. And in the Zimbabwe game, right from that moment, everyone wanted me to contribute to it. I had a role to play.
"So that's when the shift happened and the confidence that, okay, 'the team needs you, Sanju', and let's do what you can the best. So that's where everything started from.
"And then I had the experience, I was working mentally. I was working physically, so I knew that I'm ready, and I knew that this is meant for me, so I just had to do what I know best.
"So, I've been playing this format for a very long time and then it was just about planning and going out there and executing it," Samson said.
Pacer Mohammed Siraj described the triumph as a "miracle" from a personal point of view as he was not even part of the initial squad for the tournament and was included only as a replacement for an injured Harshit Rana.
"I was not in the initial squad, then I got it, played a game, and now I have been part of two World Cup-winning squads. I would say it's a miracle for me," Siraj said.
