<p>In a politically significant remark, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Saturday said he would step down if he made up his mind as he was not “infatuated” with the seat of power.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Kumaraswamy shed tears and refused to be felicitated by JD(S) workers at an event, saying he was not happy as chief minister. His grief, however, was targeted at the media.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“In just two months if you doubt me, why should I even be here? I do not want to pitch my tent as chief minister. If my father (H D Deve Gowda) willed, he could have been prime minister for five years, but out of self-respect he did not fall at anybody’s feet. I am not infatuated with the seat of power,” he said grieving, while addressing party workers who had organised a felicitation event for JD(S) legislators.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“You have come here with the happiness that your brother has become the chief minister. But I am not happy. I am suffering pain alone,” he said. Referring to the media, he said, “Do not crush my eagerness to work by misrepresenting things.” </p>.<p class="bodytext">Kumaraswamy frowned that he has to provide 7 kg rice under the previous Congress government’s flagship Anna Bhagya scheme. He had reduced it to 5 kg, but restored it under pressure from his coalition partner. “To give 7 kg rice, it will require increasing the government’s revenue. Should not I have to arrange for that? I have to now mobilise<br />Rs 2,500 crore. Where do I get it from? The previous budget had Rs 3,000 crore for it. Now, it will need Rs 5,150 crore. They also say I should not increase taxes. There are so many problems,” he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He lamented that the love people showed did not translate into votes. “During the campaign, wherever I went, people turned up to show their love for me. But when it came to voting, they forgot my party and candidates.” </p>.<p class="bodytext">JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda said his son was working 18 hours a day without caring about his health. “The previous chief minister’s loan waiver has pending dues of<br />Rs 4,000 crore, whose responsibility Kumaraswamy had to take,” he pointed out. The former prime minister urged party workers to work honestly and sincerely for the Lok Sabha polls.</p>
<p>In a politically significant remark, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Saturday said he would step down if he made up his mind as he was not “infatuated” with the seat of power.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Kumaraswamy shed tears and refused to be felicitated by JD(S) workers at an event, saying he was not happy as chief minister. His grief, however, was targeted at the media.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“In just two months if you doubt me, why should I even be here? I do not want to pitch my tent as chief minister. If my father (H D Deve Gowda) willed, he could have been prime minister for five years, but out of self-respect he did not fall at anybody’s feet. I am not infatuated with the seat of power,” he said grieving, while addressing party workers who had organised a felicitation event for JD(S) legislators.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“You have come here with the happiness that your brother has become the chief minister. But I am not happy. I am suffering pain alone,” he said. Referring to the media, he said, “Do not crush my eagerness to work by misrepresenting things.” </p>.<p class="bodytext">Kumaraswamy frowned that he has to provide 7 kg rice under the previous Congress government’s flagship Anna Bhagya scheme. He had reduced it to 5 kg, but restored it under pressure from his coalition partner. “To give 7 kg rice, it will require increasing the government’s revenue. Should not I have to arrange for that? I have to now mobilise<br />Rs 2,500 crore. Where do I get it from? The previous budget had Rs 3,000 crore for it. Now, it will need Rs 5,150 crore. They also say I should not increase taxes. There are so many problems,” he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He lamented that the love people showed did not translate into votes. “During the campaign, wherever I went, people turned up to show their love for me. But when it came to voting, they forgot my party and candidates.” </p>.<p class="bodytext">JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda said his son was working 18 hours a day without caring about his health. “The previous chief minister’s loan waiver has pending dues of<br />Rs 4,000 crore, whose responsibility Kumaraswamy had to take,” he pointed out. The former prime minister urged party workers to work honestly and sincerely for the Lok Sabha polls.</p>
