Kumaraswamy slams Siddaramaiah for accusing Oppn of targeting his wife in MUDA case
Bengaluru (PTI): JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy on Sunday hit out at Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for accusing the opposition of dragging his wife in the MUDA case and blamed the latter's 'wrongs' for the woes.
The Union Minister also challenged Siddaramaiah for a debate on the Congress government's achievements and developmental activities so far.
"Time and again you (Siddaramaiah) say the opposition is jealous and you are accusing the opposition of dragging your wife (into the MUDA case). You have brought your wife, who was respectfully at home, out (in this case). It is not done by us, the opposition. You have brought her out because of wrongs you have committed (in her name)," Kumaraswamy said.
Addressing reporters here, he said, "repeatedly you (Siddaramaiah) speak about AHINDA, what have you done for AHINDA (Kannada acronym for minorities, backward classes and Dalits)? Haven't we seen what has happened in Valmiki Corporation (scam), the loot that has happened."
Pointing to CM's emotional appeal to people if they would forgive the opposition for targeting his wife over the MUDA 'scam', Kumaraswamy said, "Whether people will forgive or accept us, they will decide later. Let him ask the people what they will do to him (Siddaramaiah) for this kind of governance..."
Siddaramaiah had on Saturday come down heavily on the opposition BJP and the JD(S) for dragging his wife Parvathi B M in the MUDA case, who had never stepped into public life and was confined to her house.
He also charged the opposition with targeting him because they could not tolerate a person from a backward community in the Chief Minister’s post.
Siddaramaiah is facing the Lokayukta and ED probes into alleged irregularities in allotment of 14 sites to his wife by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA).
His wife Parvathi, brother-in-law Mallikarjuna Swamy, Devaraju -- from whom Mallikarjuna Swamy purchased land and gifted it to Parvathi -- and others are named as other accused in the case.
Alleging that the Congress government is entangled in scams, Kumaraswamy said, "No ministers including the Chief Minister have any concern for the troubles faced by the people... they speak about development, only god should save us."
He challenged Siddaramaiah for a discussion on achievements and development work of the current Congress government led by him, with that of his (Kumaraswamy) 14 months JD(S)-Congress coalition government in 2018-19.
Claiming that he had to function as CM without proper cooperation from the Congress during the coalition government, Kumaraswamy said, "JD(S) had only 38 MLAs then... what all you (Siddaramaiah/Congress) did then? Today you are saying Kumaraswamy didn't work for 14 months."
Citing rain-related issues reported in the last couple of days in parts of the city, Kumaraswamy said, "A deadline was set to fill potholes... we are seeing the quality of the work that was done, following this rains."
Not only in Bengaluru, in several parts of the state the post monsoon rains are more than expected, leading to damage of crops and people facing trouble, he said, while accusing the government of 'failing' to address the issues
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
