BJP leader demands K'taka CM, Siddaramaiah resignations

Senior BJP leader R Ashok Saturday demanded the resignations of Karnataka chief minister H D Kumaraswamy and Congress Legislative Party leader Siddaramaiah from their posts in view of the ruling coalition's rout in the Lok Sabha elections in the state.

Referring to his party's win in 25 of the 28 seats in the state, Ashok, a former deputy chief minister, said it meant people voted for it in more than 177 assembly segments. "People have given us massive support. They have voted for BJP in more than 177 assembly segments out of 224, it means Kumaraswamy and CLP leader Siddaramaiah must immediately step down from their positions," he told reporters here.

His demand came a day after the Karnataka cabinet Friday reposed its 'faith and confidence' in the leadership of Kumaraswamy, asserting that the coalition would continue. The JD(S) and Congress won only one seat each.

Mocking Siddaramaiah, Ashok said the former chief minister was the chairman of the ruling coalition's co-ordination committee but the panel lacked co-ordination. "People saw how Siddaramaiah co-ordinated in Tumkur and Mandya to ensure the defeat of JD(S) candidates (H D Deve Gowda and grandson Nikhil Kumaraswamy)," he said.

In a shocking outcome, Gowda lost to independent and multi-lingual actress Sumalatha, wife of late Congress MP and actor Ambareesh. Ashok also claimed people rejected the JD(S)-Congress government within a year because of its poor performance.