Not in race for DyCM’s post, says Revanna

Public Works Minister H D Revanna on Monday said he was not in the race to become the deputy chief minister and that the JD(S)-led coalition government will complete its full-five year term.

“I don’t have horses to be in the race. I am not interested in race. Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy has entrusted me the responsibility of Public Works Department (PWD). And I am only concerned about it,” he told reporters when asked whether he was in the race to become CM or DyCM.

It is speculated in the political circles that there will be change of guard in the coalition government after May 23 and that Congress’ Siddaramaiah may replace Kumaraswamy as the chief minister. It is also said that Revanna would become the deputy chief minister.

He said, post-Lok Sabha election results, the coalition government will become more stable. “Don’t be surprised if the JD(S) wins all the seven parliamentary seats it has contested in Karnataka. The party candidates in HMT seats (Hassan, Mandya and Tumkur) will win,” he claimed.

Asked why Kumaraswamy and JD(S) chief H D Deve Gowda performed special puja at Chikkamagaluru last week, Revanna said the puja was not meant for winning the HMT seats. “Deve Gowda’s father had two wives. Both of them had died because of plague. Astrologers had advised us to perform pinda pradhana (rituals for the well-being of departed souls). Hence we had gone to Chikkamagaluru,” he added.

On the accusation that he was interfering in the transfer of officials in the Urban Development Department, the PWD minister denied it. “I don’t interfere in other departments. It is not true, he claimed.