If voted to power, will make Dalit, minority leaders as DCMs: HDK

Former chief minister and JD(S) state president H D Kumaraswamy, on Monday, said that a Dalit MLA and a minority community MLA will be made as deputy chief ministers if the party forms the government in the state.

Kumaraswamy was interacting with journalists, at a session organised by Mysore District Journalists’ Association (MDJA), here. He said that the Congress and the BJP have failed to develop the state and to protect the welfare of the people.

“The BJP state leaders have no moral right to seek votes, so they are urging for people’s support in the name of Narendra Modi. Both BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah have declared themselves as chief ministerial candidates. But I am asking the people to give me an opportunity. I am not a self-declared Chief Minister,” Kumaraswamy said.

“Siddaramaiah claims that he is the only one to complete full tenure of five years as CM after D Devaraj Urs. It is not important for how many years one has served as chief minister. The development and pro-people programmes are the matter of concern for people. Siddaramaiah has presented a total of 13 budgets, but, he has not introduced any asset creation programme,” he said.

“Siddaramaiaha’s government is not ‘Nudidante Nadeda Siddu Sarakara’ but, ‘Nudidante Hodeda Sarakara’ (hodeda meaning looting in Kannada). The Congress was responsible for the BJP to come to power in the Centre. It is Siddaramaiah, who joined hands with Yeddyurappa earlier,” he claimed.

Rahul immature

Taking exception for All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Rahul Gandhi’s statement that JD(S) is ‘B’ team of BJP, Kumaraswamy said, “Rahul Gandhi is politically immature and he just reads out the letter written by someone else. We do not need any lesson from Siddaramaiah on how to implement secularism. Siddaramaiah had joined hands with Yeddyurappa.”

CM dreams 25 seat

In response to Siddaramaiah’s comments that the JD(S) will get only 25 seats, Kumaraswamy said, “Siddaramaiah is getting dreams of the Congress getting only 25 seats, but, he takes the name of the JD(S) instead of the Congress during his campaign.”

In the last five years, Siddaramaiah has severely damaged the government machinery. Even if he is re-elected, he may face difficulty to run the government, Kumaraswamy commented.

Bad old friends

When the reporters asked about the seven rebel MLAs, who joined the Congress, Kumaraswamy said, “They are not good old friends, but, ‘bad old friends’ and the JD(S) has no special concern to defeat in the Assembly election. I have realised that their friendship is dangerous.”

‘CM sidelines Congmen’

Kumaraswamy said, “Siddaramaiah has sidelined all original Congressmen and he has no support of them. Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president G Parameshwara, Mallikarjuna Kharge and V Srinivas Prasad were with him, but, today all of them are against Siddaramaiah.”

JD(S) opponent in Badami

The JD(S) is the opponent for Siddaramaiah in Badami Assembly segment and not the BJP. The BJP is yet to finalise the candidate to field against Siddaramaiah, Kumaraswamy said.

MLAs G T Devegowda and Sa Ra Mahesh were present.