<p>In a fresh row, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and his predecessor Siddaramaiah shadow boxed each other on Thursday, a continuation of the friction between alliance partners JD(S) and the Congress ahead of the Lok Sabha election results.</p>.<p>Siddaramaiah took to Twitter to respond to Kumaraswamy’s recent statement that veteran Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge should have become the chief minister long ago.</p>.<p>“What Kumaraswamy has said is right. Not just CM, but Mallikarjun Kharge is eligible for a much higher position. There are many in the Congress and the JD(S) who are eligible to become CM. H D Revanna (Kumaraswamy’s brother) is one of them. There’s a right time for everything,” Siddaramaiah wrote.</p>.<p>Kumaraswamy’s pro-Kharge statement is seen as an effort to checkmate Siddaramaiah, who has expressed his desire to become chief minister again. Kharge, a Dalit, missed an opportunity to become the chief minister in 2013. By dropping Revanna’s name, Siddaramaiah is seen as getting back at Kumaraswamy.</p>.<p>“My statement that Kharge should’ve become the CM came from the depths of my heart based on decades-old political reality of the state. It’s not healthy to misinterpret my statement,” Kumaraswamy tweeted in response. “I won’t stoop so low to reap political gain from this. Kharge’s personality transcends party and caste.”</p>.<p>This exchange between Kumaraswamy and Siddaramaiah comes days after the JD(S) leadership lodged a complaint with the Congress high command against some leaders publicly seeking a second term as CM for Siddaramaiah. Some believe that projecting Siddaramaiah as chief minister could be an attempt to prepare the pitch for a change of guard after the Lok Sabha election results are out on May 23.</p>.<p>Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Dinesh Gundu Rao, however, downplayed the issue. “There may be many CM aspirants, but that discussion is irrelevant now as the post is not vacant,” Rao said.</p>.<p class="CrossHead"><strong>Field day for BJP</strong></p>.<p>The talk of chief ministerial candidates within the Congress-JD(S) coalition gave the BJP a field day. For instance, BJP leader B Sriramulu said he welcomed Kharge or Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara, also a Dalit, becoming the chief minister. “Persons belonging to all communities, except Dalits and Valmikis, have become CMs,” said Sriramulu, a Valmiki leader.</p>.<p>Senior Congress leader K H Muniyappa agreed. “No SC/ST leader has been able to get a major position since (Former deputy prime minister) Babu Jagjivan Ram,” he said.</p>
<p>In a fresh row, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and his predecessor Siddaramaiah shadow boxed each other on Thursday, a continuation of the friction between alliance partners JD(S) and the Congress ahead of the Lok Sabha election results.</p>.<p>Siddaramaiah took to Twitter to respond to Kumaraswamy’s recent statement that veteran Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge should have become the chief minister long ago.</p>.<p>“What Kumaraswamy has said is right. Not just CM, but Mallikarjun Kharge is eligible for a much higher position. There are many in the Congress and the JD(S) who are eligible to become CM. H D Revanna (Kumaraswamy’s brother) is one of them. There’s a right time for everything,” Siddaramaiah wrote.</p>.<p>Kumaraswamy’s pro-Kharge statement is seen as an effort to checkmate Siddaramaiah, who has expressed his desire to become chief minister again. Kharge, a Dalit, missed an opportunity to become the chief minister in 2013. By dropping Revanna’s name, Siddaramaiah is seen as getting back at Kumaraswamy.</p>.<p>“My statement that Kharge should’ve become the CM came from the depths of my heart based on decades-old political reality of the state. It’s not healthy to misinterpret my statement,” Kumaraswamy tweeted in response. “I won’t stoop so low to reap political gain from this. Kharge’s personality transcends party and caste.”</p>.<p>This exchange between Kumaraswamy and Siddaramaiah comes days after the JD(S) leadership lodged a complaint with the Congress high command against some leaders publicly seeking a second term as CM for Siddaramaiah. Some believe that projecting Siddaramaiah as chief minister could be an attempt to prepare the pitch for a change of guard after the Lok Sabha election results are out on May 23.</p>.<p>Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Dinesh Gundu Rao, however, downplayed the issue. “There may be many CM aspirants, but that discussion is irrelevant now as the post is not vacant,” Rao said.</p>.<p class="CrossHead"><strong>Field day for BJP</strong></p>.<p>The talk of chief ministerial candidates within the Congress-JD(S) coalition gave the BJP a field day. For instance, BJP leader B Sriramulu said he welcomed Kharge or Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara, also a Dalit, becoming the chief minister. “Persons belonging to all communities, except Dalits and Valmikis, have become CMs,” said Sriramulu, a Valmiki leader.</p>.<p>Senior Congress leader K H Muniyappa agreed. “No SC/ST leader has been able to get a major position since (Former deputy prime minister) Babu Jagjivan Ram,” he said.</p>
