Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Kumaraswamy on April 20 claimed that the Congress wanted to finish the party founded by his father and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda. He also hit out at Siddaramaiah and said that the Congress leader will go to any lengths to continue as the chief minister of Karnataka.
“After the 2024 poll results, Siddaramaiah is not going to give any respect to the Congress high Command. He is not committed to any party … his attachment is only to the (CM) chair. We know his character ... Siddaramaiah is the product of Janata Dal. Whatever decision he wants to take, he will take in order to continue as the chief minister," Kumaraswamy said during an interview with news agency ANI.
Elaborating about the rise and fall of the JD(S)-Congress government, the former Karnataka CM said, “From 2004-2006, we supported Congress. Back then, Karnataka rejected the Congress which had secured 62 seats. The party failed to get majority. Our party got 58 seats but Congress clearly stated that it will not give the CM post to JD(S). To stop BJP from coming to power in Karnataka, Congress & JD(S) joined hands. However, we had a bad experience as the party treated us poorly after coming to power”.
Kumaraswamy also recalled how Congress, during a public meeting ahead of the 2018 assembly elections, criticized JD(S). “Some Congress friends criticized JD(S)’ stand and said publicly that we were the B Team of BJP. The reality was that we were fighting both BJP and the Congress then,” he said.
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The former Karnataka CM, who is contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from Mandya, also exuded confidence that NDA - BJP & JD(S) alliance - will win all 28 seats in Karnataka.
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