HDK sheds tears, says not happy to be CM

In a politically significant remark, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Saturday said he would step down if he made up his mind as he was not “infatuated” with the seat of power.

Kumaraswamy shed tears and refused to be felicitated by JD(S) workers at an event, saying he was not happy as chief minister. His grief, however, was targeted at the media.

“In just two months if you doubt me, why should I even be here? I do not want to pitch my tent as chief minister. If my father (H D Deve Gowda) willed, he could have been prime minister for five years, but out of self-respect he did not fall at anybody’s feet. I am not infatuated with the seat of power,” he said grieving, while addressing party workers who had organised a felicitation event for JD(S) legislators.

“You have come here with the happiness that your brother has become the chief minister. But I am not happy. I am suffering pain alone,” he said. Referring to the media, he said, “Do not crush my eagerness to work by misrepresenting things.”

Kumaraswamy frowned that he has to provide 7 kg rice under the previous Congress government’s flagship Anna Bhagya scheme. He had reduced it to 5 kg, but restored it under pressure from his coalition partner. “To give 7 kg rice, it will require increasing the government’s revenue. Should not I have to arrange for that? I have to now mobilise
Rs 2,500 crore. Where do I get it from? The previous budget had Rs 3,000 crore for it. Now, it will need Rs 5,150 crore. They also say I should not increase taxes. There are so many problems,” he said.

He lamented that the love people showed did not translate into votes. “During the campaign, wherever I went, people turned up to show their love for me. But when it came to voting, they forgot my party and candidates.”

JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda said his son was working 18 hours a day without caring about his health. “The previous chief minister’s loan waiver has pending dues of
Rs 4,000 crore, whose responsibility Kumaraswamy had to take,” he pointed out. The former prime minister urged party workers to work honestly and sincerely for the Lok Sabha polls.