M B Patil takes U-turn on Siddaramaiah-for-CM issue

After creating ripples in the coalition government by pitching to make Siddaramaiah chief minister again, Home Minister M B Patil on Thursday made U-turn on the issue and said the question of changing CM does not arise.

“The question (of changing CM) does not arise as Siddaramaiah has himself clarified that it will not happen now,” he told reporters after meeting state Congress president Dinesh Gundu Rao at the party office.

Patil had on Wednesday said that he wants Siddaramaiah back as CM, triggering speculation on the possibility of change of guard in the coalition government after May 23, when the Lok Sabha election results will be announced. Skill Development Minister P T Parameshwar Naik, too, had made a similar statement, causing immense embarrassment to the coalition partners.

Senior Congress leader and Revenue Minister R V Deshpande urged his party men not to create confusion in the coalition government by making a pitch for Siddaramaiah becoming CM.

“Such statements vitiates the atmosphere. H D Kumaraswamy is the chief minister now. He will remain in the post for the next four years. Both the coalition partners (Congress and JD-S) have already decided it. So nobody should create confusion,” he told reporters on seeking his reaction to the issue.

Any discussion on the CM post should be done after the next Assembly polls. It is not necessary and relevant now, Deshpande said and added that he was not aspiring to become CM.

Public Works Minister H D Revanna refused to comment on the demand by some Congress legislators to make Siddaramaiah CM again. “I don’t want to comment. But there will not be any problem to the coalition government. Kumaraswamy will complete five years term,” he said.