Bengaluru: Even as there was a growing clamour within the Congress for Siddaramaiah to become the Chief Minister of Karnataka once again, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy’s remark that veteran Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge should have been offered the post long ago triggered a debate between the two coalition parties.
Hitting back at the JD(S) leader, Siddaramaiah tweeted, “What Kumaraswamy has said is right. Mallikarjun Kharge has capability not only to become Chief Minister, but even higher position. There are several people in Congress and JD(S) who have the capability to become CM. H D Revanna is also one among them. For every thing time has to come.”
However, Kumaraswamy defended his statement saying that it was deep from his heart, based on decades old political reality in Karnataka, and giving any political colour to it or analysing by misunderstanding it is not healthy.
“I don’t have a shabby interest to get political advantage through this statement. We should not forget that Kharge’s personality is something that is beyond party or caste lines,” the CM tweeted.
Meanwhile, Revanna reacting to Siddaramaiah’s remark, tweeted “He (Siddaramaiah) has been my well wisher for long, so I will not react on what he has said. He has affection towards me. when Kumaranna (Kumarasway) is CM how can I become? The post is not vacant now. Until Kumaraswamy is CM none of us are in the race. We brothers will never fight for this. What ever Kumaraswamy and Deve Gowda say that’s my stand,” he said.
To this, the former chief minister made clarification that he has only said that there are many who have the capability to become Chief Minister and Revanna is one among them.
Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara in Kalaburagi said he too aspired to become the chief minister but the post was not vacant now.