The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Minister blames Congress

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 29, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Minister blames Congress

Staff Reporter

`Siddaramaiah, H.D. Kumaraswamy are like brothers'

BANGALORE: The Sericulture Minister, C. Channigappa, on Monday blamed "unemployed" leaders in the Congress for the confusion in the Janata Dal (Secular) and alleged that they have the twin objective of bringing down the Government and creating a division in the party.

Mr. Channigappa, a loyalist of the former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, told presspersons that the relations between Mr. Deve Gowda and Mr. Siddaramaiah are cordial.

Mr. Siddaramaiah, he said, will never leave the Janata Dal (Secular) as he has been made the Deputy Chief Minister and entrusted with the weighty portfolios of finance and excise. But Mr. Channigappa expressed surprise over the reason for Mr. Siddaramaiah's unhappiness.

Mr. Deve Gowda could not make Mr. Siddaramaiah the Chief Minister because of the compulsions of coalition governance. He would be given that office when the JD(S) gets a majority in the next election.

He said that no one in the party, including himself, will allow Mr. Siddaramaiah to leave the party. He said that Mr. Siddaramiah and the Working President of the party's State unit, H.D. Kumaraswamy, are like brothers and there is no rift between them.

Mr. Siddaramaiah alone has the chance of becoming the Chief Minister and even the Prime Minister if he heeds the advice of Mr. Deve Gowda. If anybody tries to topple the Government, the alternative will be elections.

He ruled out any alliance with the Congress in that event. Mr. Channigappa said Mr. Deve Gowda has not betrayed anybody. When he was reminded about the fate of the Government led by the late Chief Minister J.H. Patel, the Minister said that the Government fell because of a conspiracy hatched by others.

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