Kumaraswamy non-commital on future of JDS' alliance with Congress
Bengaluru: A day after the coalition government headed by him collapsed, outgoing Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Wednesday remained non-committal on the future of his party JDS' alliance with the Congress, saying both parties have not yet discussed it.
The 14-month old Congress-JDS coalition government headed by Kumaraswamy resigned on Tuesday, losing the vote of confidence in the assembly after a three-week long bitter jockeying for power.
"Today we have called our MLAs to work out future strategies. Our top priority is to develop our party, to get the confidence of the people of Karnataka and how to move ahead at this juncture. We will discuss," Kumaraswamy told reporters ahead of the JD(S) meeting at the party office here.
Responding to a question on continuing alliance with the Congress, he said, "Let us see...I don't know. I don't know about the stand of Congress leaders for the future... we have not discussed anything yet."
JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy, who is the JDS legislature party leader and party state unit chief, are part of the meeting with party legislators.
Congress and JD(S), considered arch rivals, especially in Mysuru region, had joined hands toform a coalition government after the May 2018 assembly polls threw up a hung verdict.
Both parties were routed in the recent Lok Sabha polls, winning just one seat each out of total 28 seats inthe state, as grassroot level workers of both parties were nothappy with the alliance.
Coalition worries and dissidence within had repeatedly threatened the government's stability and raised questions about its longevity.
The resignation of 15 MLAs -- 12 from the Congress and three from JD(S), and independent MLAs R Shankar and H Nagesh withdrawing their support to the coalition government, compounded matters, pushing the government to the brink.
In the trial of legislative strength after the resignation of the MLAs, Kumaraswamy had garnered 99 votes against the 105by the opposition BJP, following which he resigned.
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'Like-minded' Cong MLAs attend dinner hosted by Jarkiholi amid power tussle for CM post
Belagavi (PTI): 'Like-minded' ruling Congress legislators met for dinner hosted by senior Minister Satish Jarkiholi at a hotel here, amid the ongoing power tussle within the party over the chief minister post.
While some legislators described it as a casual dinner meeting held during the ongoing winter session of the state legislature, others said political developments in the state were discussed.
According to party sources, over 30 legislators attended the dinner hosted by Jarkiholi on Wednesday night.
Jarkiholi is considered close to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Those present included Siddaramaiah’s son and MLC Yathindra Siddaramaiah, MLA K N Rajanna, among others.
Siddaramaiah was not present at the dinner as he was unwell, sources said.
The dinner meeting came a week after over 30 Congress legislators, including some ministers, attended a dinner along with Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on the outskirts of Belagavi.
"There is nothing special about it. Giving a dinner to like-minded people is common. Such meetings keep happening. We too had one yesterday. There was nothing special, and not much political discussion took place," Jarkiholi told reporters here on Thursday.
He said this was not the first such meeting. "We have met several times before. They (legislators) have come to my place as well. Like-minded people met," he said.
However, Rajanna, a former minister and MLA considered close to the chief minister, said political matters were discussed during the dinner.
"Yes, Satish Jarkiholi hosted a dinner meeting yesterday. It was not limited to SC/ST legislators, as reported. He invited all like-minded legislators. I also attended. Several political matters were discussed. Jarkiholi himself may explain the details," Rajanna told reporters.
Asked whether politics was discussed at the dinner, he said, "Why would we meet otherwise? Would we meet just for food? When people meet, discussions are bound to happen. It serves multiple purposes."
Reacting to state BJP president B Y Vijayendra’s remark describing Siddaramaiah as an "outgoing CM", Rajanna said, "Then let us call Vijayendra the outgoing BJP president. Siddaramaiah is not outgoing. He is very much in and will continue."
Yathindra Siddaramaiah said such dinner meetings are common during legislative sessions and that he attends whenever invited.
"Everyone is hosting lunches and dinners. Recently, Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao invited me, and I attended. We met during the Congress Legislature Party meeting and over dinner. If any minister invites me, I will go," he said.
On Vijayendra’s "outgoing CM" comment, Yathindra said the opposition had been making such remarks from the beginning. "There is no meaning to the opposition’s criticism. Can we react every time? Let it be," he said.
The power tussle within the ruling party has intensified amid speculation of a change in leadership after the Congress government completed the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20.
Reports of an alleged power-sharing agreement between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar in 2023 fueled the speculation. However, both the chief minister and the deputy chief minister recently held breakfast meetings at each other’s residences on the instructions of the party high command.
This is seen as an attempt to pause the leadership tussle and signal Siddaramaiah’s continuation as CM for the time being.
Meanwhile, Rajanna stated that if a Cabinet reshuffle were to take place, two berths should be allocated to the Valmiki (ST) community. "It will be given," he said.
Asked about his own chances of returning to the Cabinet, Rajanna said he was not bothered. "I may get a minister post or may not. I am least concerned," he said.
Rajanna, who earlier served as cooperative minister, was removed from the Cabinet earlier this year following directions from the Congress high command.
Certain remarks made by him, including comments related to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s "vote theft" allegations, were cited as reasons for his removal.
The former minister said he would meet the party high command in Delhi if called. "If called, I will go. Am I mad to go without being called? Should I go just to eat at Karnataka Bhavan and return? I have sought time. If time is given, I will go," he said.
Regarding a change in the state Congress president, a post held by Shivakumar, Rajanna said there is an AICC press release dated May 18, 2023, based on which action should be taken.
Rajanna, who has been batting for a change in the state Congress president, was referring to the release which stated that Shivakumar would continue as president until the 2024 parliamentary elections.
