The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Kumaraswamy-led government must resign, demands Congress

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Friday, Dec 08, 2006
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Kumaraswamy-led government must resign, demands Congress

Karnataka Bureau

Kharge thanks Chamundeshwari voters for supporting Siddaramaiah

THE JOY OF VICTORY: Congress party workers celebrating Siddaramaiah's victory in the Chamundeshwari byelection by bursting firecrackers in Bangalore on Thursday. — Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

Bangalore: Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president M. Mallikarjun Kharge and Leaders of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly and Council N. Dharam Singh and H.K. Patil respectively have demanded the resignation of the H.D. Kumaraswamy-led government following the Siddaramaiah's victory in the keenly fought Chamundeswari byelection.

At a press conference here on Thursday, they said the Chief Minister should resign on moral grounds and recalled Mr. Kumaraswamy's statement that the byelection was a do-or-die battle for him and his party.

Voters thanked

Mr. Kharge thanked the voters of the constituency for supporting Mr. Siddaramaiah and for upholding the secular values of the Congress. Recalling Janata Dal (Secular) national president H.D. Deve Gowda's claim that it was a "Dharma Yuddha," Mr. Kharge said the people had reposed faith in the politics of principles while rejecting family rule.

Mr. Kharge said the fall in the margin from 36,000 votes when Mr. Siddaramaiah contested as a JD(S) candidate to 257 now was because it had been a triangular contest earlier, while this byelection was a one-to-one contest in which ruling party stalwarts, including Mr. Deve Gowda and Mr. Kumaraswamy camped in the constituency.

The victory was also an endorsement of the Congress leadership, including party president Sonia Gandhi, he added.

Mr. Dharam Singh said Mr. Siddaramaiah's victory would brighten the party's image in the State.

The tall claim of Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa that Mr. Shivabasappa would win with a margin of over 20,000 votes had been belied.

Asked if Mr. Siddaramaiah would be put in the forefront to take on the coalition government, Mr. Singh said any decision made by Ms. Gandhi would be accepted.

Mr. Patil said the election had inspired party workers.

The former Ministers Kagodu Thimmappa, Basavaraj Patil Humnabad, A.M. Hindasgeri, Rani Satish, Basavaraj Patil Anwari and Basavaraj Patil Humnabad and MPs and party leaders congratulated Mr. Siddarmaiah. Party workers burst crackers and distributed sweets celebrating the victory.

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