I'm ready to step down: Karnataka CM Kumaraswamy

Congress leaders must control their MLAs, says Kumaraswamy as legislators hail Siddaramaiah as the CM

Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Monday said he was ready to step down, in what has become yet another indicator that all was not well in the Congress-JD(S) coalition.

Kumarswamy’s rant of irritation came a day after some Congress legislators, including Cabinet ministers, publicly hailed Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah as their chief minister. They even criticised the Kumaraswamy administration for not taking up development works.

“If my style of functioning is not acceptable, I am ready to quit, I don't want to stick on to the chair,” told Kumaraswamy to media persons.

At an event on Sunday, Housing Minister MTB Nagaraju and Backward Classes Minister C Puttarangashetty said Siddaramaiah was their chief minister. BDA chairperson ST Somashekhar, too, echoed this view and went on to charge that developmental works, especially in Bengaluru city, were not happening.

Siddaramaiah led the previous Congress government and became the first chief minister in four decades to complete a full five-year term. Some Congress leaders, especially those loyal to him, have repeatedly asserted in public that Siddaramaiah should have continued as the chief minister for a second term.

“Well, what’s wrong in them saying Siddaramaiah was their chief minister,” Congress’ Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara asked, seeking to play things down. “They have only expressed their opinion given the work Siddaramaiah did during the previous government.”

The Siddaramaiah-led Congress and the Kumaraswamy-led JD(S) fought a bitter election earlier this year, only to join hands to form a coalition when there was a fractured mandate.

Monday’s outburst was not the first for Kumaraswamy. Ever since he took charge as chief minister in May last, he has called himself “a child of circumstances” and “one who is swallowing poison.” He has also claimed helplessness at times, saying he was “at the mercy of the Congress.”

Responding to Somasekhar statement, KPCC President Dinesh Gundu Rao said, “this statement is not acceptable, we will issue show cause notice to him, there are no issues in the coalition government.