BENGALURU: Chief minister
H D Kumaraswamy, who completed 100 days in office on Thursday, met Congress president
Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson
Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi amid talks of tension between him and former chief minister Siddaramaiah.
Speculation was rife about the meeting coming in the backdrop of Siddaramaiah’s statement that ‘if people wish, he will become chief minister again’ and that the CM met senior Congress leaders to complain against the ex-CM.
Kumaraswamy, however, rubbished these speculations, saying the meeting with the Congress chief was a cordial one and not to complain against Siddaramaiah. “I met Rahul to thank him for his support and apprise him of the work done by the coalition government. He was quite impressed with our 100-day performance and has promised me
unconditional support,” Kumaraswamy said.
Political pundits, however, are analysing Kumaraswamy’s meeting with Rahul as a sensible one, but say there is more than what meets the eye. “By meeting Rahul, Kumaraswamy has sent out a message to Siddaramaiah that he cares more about Rahul than him,” sources said.
CM seeks early cabinet expansion
Kumaraswamy urged Rahul to take an early decision on cabinet expansion in Karnataka. “I have requested the Congress president to have the cabinet expansion and appoint chairpersons to boards and corporations at the earliest,” he said. Kumaraswamy’s discussions with Rahul also comes on the eve of the JD(S)-Congress coordination committee meeting, which is expected to deliberate on cabinet expansion, among other things.
‘Even RV Deshpande might want to become chief minister’
On Siddaramaiah’s statement that he aspires to be CM again, Kumaraswamy said: “He (Siddaramaiah) is a tall leader. If he wants to become chief minister, what’s wrong in that?”
“Siddaramaiah has already clarified that he’d become CM only if people want it that way in the next election. The coalition government is secure under Siddaramaiah’s leadership,” the CM added.
Kumaraswamy, in fact, said why only Siddaramaiah, even revenue minister RV Deshpande could become the CM. “Deshpande too is a senior leader and has more experience than me …. He may also want to become the CM and there would be nothing wrong in that. There is no need to interpret things differently. Even Yeddyurappa can aspire to become CM again,” he said.
