Watch: Congress MLAs calls Siddaramaiah their CM; HD Kumaraswamy threatens party ally says, ‘I am ready to step down’
The Lok Sabha Election is approaching but the political crisis in Karnataka alliance government between Congress-JDS has seen no end. As reports suggest that Congress MLAs call Siddaramaiah their Chief Minister, HD Kumaraswamy on Monday threatened to ‘step down’ if Congress fails to control its MLAs.
"Congress leaders have to watch all that issues, I'm not the concerned person for it. If they want to continue with the same thing, I am ready to step down. They are crossing the line. Congress leaders must control their MLAs," ANI quoted Kumaraswamy as saying when asked that Congress MLAs are saying that Siddaramaiah is their CM.
Karnataka Dy CM on 'Congress MLAs say Siddaramaiah is their leader'': 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). pic.twitter.com/bnvAUiM9OA
— ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2019
Karnataka CM Kumaraswamy statement came after Congress’ C Puttaranga Shetty, a minister in the state government said that for him, Siddaramaiah was still the chief minister.
Karnataka Deputy CM G Parameshwara commented on the ongoing rift between the two party MLAs and 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).”
Meanwhile, former state CM and senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah slammed media over the conflicts. He said, "You (media) are the people who create trouble. You ask one person, then the second person and then third person. There is no trouble, I will speak to HD Kumaraswamy." Siddaramaiah was chief minister of Karnataka before the state election held in May last year.
First published: 28 January 2019, 14:17 IST