The Congress-JD(S) unholy alliance in Karnataka seems to be on the verge of a break up as Chief Minister Kumaraswamy today said that he is ready to step down since Congress MLAs consider only former chief minister and Congress leader Siddaramaiah as their chief minister.
#WATCH: Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy says “…If they want to continue with the same thing, I am ready to step down. They are crossing the line”, when asked ‘Congress MLAs are saying that Siddaramaiah is their CM’.’ pic.twitter.com/qwErh4aEq4
— ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2019
“Congress leaders have to watch all those issues. That is left to them. I don’t need to react to it (claims that Congress MLAs say Siddaramaiah is their CM). If they want to continue, I am ready to step down. Congress leaders must think about all these things, to control them. They are crossing their line,” said a visibly upset Kumaraswamy.
Reacting to it, Congress MLA and Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara said, “Siddaramaiah has been best CM. He is our CLP leader. For the MLA, he (Siddaramaiah) is the CM. He has expressed his opinion. What is wrong in that? We are all happy with him (Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy).”
Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy has earlier expressed his unhappiness over the coalition government. A few days back, he had become emotional and said to the party colleagues that he was functioning like a clerk and not like a chief minister because of Congress’ interference in the functioning of the government. Kumaraswamy was also reportedly heard complaining that he is working under “tremendous pressure”.
The rift between Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) has been widening recently as both parties have tried to outdo each other to grapple as much as power in the coalition government. The recent cabinet expansion has further widened the rift, with leaders from both the parties are openly conspiring against each other. In July last year, expressing his unhappiness over the coalition government Kumaraswamy had cried saying he was unhappy and swallowing the poison of a coalition government.
