LS seat sharing: Only after committee meet, says Siddu

Coalition government's Co-ordination Committee Chairman Siddaramaiah said any decision on seat sharing with JD(S) will be taken after a meeting of the committee. Speaking to media persons at Hubballi Airport on Saturday, he said the party has not made any decision on seat sharing yet.

He even ticked off KPCC working president Eshwar Khandre, who had said that Congress party is under pressure not to seed to seats for the Lok Sabha elections. Siddaramaiah said that it was Khandre’s personal opinion and not that of party’s.

The former chief minister also backed the under-fire Backward Classes Welfare Minister C Puttarangashetty, after his aid was caught red-handed with Rs 25 lakh at Vidhan Soudha. “The case is being investigated by the Anti-Corruption Bureau. Let the findings of investigations come out only after that one can take a call. Just because money was found with someone close to minister does not mean that the money belongs to him. Drawing such inference would be wrong,” he said.

Modi in fear

Siddaramaiah said that the emergency with which Prime Minister Narendra Modi shunted out CBI former director Alok Verma shows how frightened he is. Calling it (ousting of CBI director) a big conspiracy, Siddaramaiah said that Modi removed him so as to protect his government from Rafale investigation.

Speaking about the formation of a pre-poll alliance of SP and BSP in Uttar Pradesh, he said all the parties are coming together to throw this communal BJP out. However, such an alliance should not be formed without the support of Congress.

Siddaramaiah charged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is trying to create a rift between the coalition partners.

Replying to journalists on Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy’s statement that Congress is making him work as a clerk and not as a chief minister, Siddaramaiah said Modi is instigating JD(S) leaders to revolt against Congress.

It is unfortunate that Prime Minister is indulging in such cheep-level politics and interfering in the coalition government. “Is Modi part of Coalition government, then why is he poking his nose in the matter. This is an internal matter between JD(S) and Congress and we will look into the matter,” he said.