By Express News Service
BENGALURU: Former chief minister Siddaramaiah’s statements opposing a full-fledged budget from Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and expressing doubts about the survival of the coalition government beyond the next Lok Sabha election has come under fire from Congress strongman D K Shivakumar.
“Siddaramaiah’s statements will not have any impact on the functioning of the H D Kumaraswamy government,” Shivakumar, who is the irrigation minister, said here on Wednesday.
Referring to the video clips of Siddaramaiah which have caused a ripple within the coalition government, Shivakumar said, “Nobody can comment about the coalition government. Only AICC president Rahul Gandhi and AICC general secretary K C Venugopal are authorised to speak about the functioning of the coalition government.”
In a veiled threat, Shivakumar said, “Statements against the coalition government cannot be tolerated. Whatever someone wants to say should be said within the party forum, not in the media. This rule applies to everyone.”
Shivakumar reminded the party rank and file that Rahul Gandhi has assured support to Kumaraswamy for the next five years and said, “Nobody should cause any hiccups for the coalition government.’ He also exhorted Congress leaders to practice party-based politics and not personality-oriented politics.
