Uncertain HDK says he will be CM for at least 1 year

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said on Friday he would head the coalition government “at least till the 2019 Lok Sabha polls,” a remark that raised eyebrows in political circles.

“I know that no one can touch me for at least another year. I’ll be around for at least one year till the Lok Sabha elections are over,” Kumaraswamy said at the inaugural of the 15th Karnataka State Level Chartered Accountants conference. “Till then, no one will do anything to me. They can’t also.”

Kumaraswamy’s uncertainty over his tenure as the chief minister comes a day after the Coalition Coordination and Monitoring Committee met for the first time. His remark also contrasts his alliance partner Congress’ claim that Kumaraswamy will be the chief minister for a full five-year term.

Kumaraswamy’s tenure has been dogged by uncertainty ever since he became the chief minister on May 23.

First, it was Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara who said the alliance partners were yet to reach an agreement over Kumaraswamy getting a full term. The Congress later said he will be the CM for five years. In another shocker, Kumaraswamy said he was obligated to the Congress and not to the people. Later, he said he was at the mercy of the Congress.

Kumaraswamy has repeatedly frowned upon the way he became the chief minister, calling himself “a child of circumstance”.

Kumaraswamy said he would work for the state’s development as long as he was in power. “I won’t waste time. Every minute during this period, I will take decisions for the development of the state.”

Kumaraswamy asserted that he was committed to his promise of waiving farmers’ loans. Earlier in the day, Kumaraswamy addressed a tweet to farmers: “Let there be no confusion on farm loan waiver. I am fully committed to the loan waiver. I want to ensure it is done scientifically benefitting maximum farmers. I am working on the modalities and will announce it shortly.”

The Congress-JD(S) coalition will table its budget in the first week of July, Kumaraswamy said. “Some say why a new budget is needed when a supplementary budget can suffice. Some are worried that I’ll make a name for myself,” he quipped.