Cong shouldn't treat JD(S) as third grade citizens: HDK

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Monday took a potshot at the Congress stating that his party (the JD-S) should not be treated as “third grade citizen” and the coalition partners should adopt a “give and take policy” to put up a united fight against the BJP.

Kumaraswamy’s statement comes at a time when speculation is rife that the BJP may destabilise the coalition government to grab power.

In an interview, Kumaraswamy said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s charisma was “fading” with growing anti-incumbency wave.

He pitched for Congress president Rahul Gandhi for the top job and at the same time admitted that there was a lack of consensus among anti-BJP parties on choosing Rahul.

The chief minister said after the formation of the coalition government in Karnataka, a lot of changes had taken place in the country’s political landscape, including BJP’s down slide and Congress victory in some bypolls and Assembly elections in three states.

“...in my opinion if Congress loses its way and tries to move with overconfidence, what will happen they will understand. They should treat us respectfully. They should not treat us as third grade citizens. There should be give and take policy,” Kumaraswamy said.

The JD(S) has demanded 12 out of 28 seats for the Lok Sabha polls, to which the Congress has expressed its reservations.

Asked whether his party’s demand for 12 seats was negotiable, Kumaraswamy did not give a direct response.

On possible cracks in the anti-Modi front, the chief minister said, “I feel a strong combination may emerge against the BJP. I also feel that the ‘mahagatbandhan’ may emerge as an alternative to national parties.”