While Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has been saying that all is well within the JD(S)-Congress coalition, his brother and Public Works Minister H.D. Revanna sang a different tune on Friday. He said Mr. Kumaraswamy would “tolerate things as long as he can” and run the government. “The Chief Minister will tolerate as long as he can... We are not sitting here fearful [of losing power],” he said in reply to queries from presspersons on the appointment of a Congressman as the Chief Minister’s political secretary.
When asked whether he was saying that the Chief Minister was tolerating despite lack of coordination between the coalition partners, and if there was “high-handedness” on part of the Congress, he was evasive in his reply. “Why should I say there is a lack of coordination between the JD(S) and Congress? Everything will be discussed and decided by JD(S) supremo Deve Gowda, the Chief Minister, Congress leaders, and their AICC general secretary K.C. Venugopal,” he said.
On Parameshwara
Mr. Revanna was also critical of the Congress taking away the Home portfolio from Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara.
He rubbished reports and allegations that this was the result of Dr. Parameshwara “listening to the brothers” (Mr. Kumaraswamy and Mr. Revanna). “What do we have to do with his removal? That is the Congress party’s decision,” he said.
“He was performing well as Home Minister. Some people within the Congress are behind his removal. I know what kind of pressure Parameshwara was under from his own party. He is from an SC community... Was it necessary to remove him from the post?” the JD(S) leader asked. “I do not know why the Congress took away the Home portfolio from him.... If his party cannot tolerate an SC community leader as Deputy Chief Minister, what can I say?”