Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru (RJP)
Bengaluru, May 16: State BJP president B S Yeddyurappa, on Wednesday May 15, demanded that chief minister H D Kumaraswamy should quit his post and allow senior Congress leader Mallikarjuna Kharge to occupy it.
"If Kumaraswamy is sincere in what he said, he should quit immediately and allow Kharge to be chief minister. If Kharge becoming CM is really his dream, let him Kumaraswamy resign," Yeddyurappa added,
Kumaraswamy on Tuesday had said that Kharge should have been the chief minister of Karnataka.
BJP MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal also said Kumaraswamy should make way for Kharge. “Kumaraswamy's statement is only a poll gimmick. Kharge is a senior leader. The Congress did not make use of his experience. It's time Kumaraswamy allows Kharge to be CM," he said.
Reacting to the chief minister's statement, Kharge told reporters “I have not taken Kumaraswamy's statement seriously. He has said it out of affection. I do not like to react to emotional statements. We have formed the coalition government to keep the BJP away from power. We will support any party for strengthening secularism,”
Asked why Kumaraswamy has suddenly developed so much love for him, Kharge retorted saying that the question should be posed to the chief minister.
Some in political circles believe that Kumaraswamy's statement in favour of Kharge is seen as an effort to contain Congress legislature party leader Siddaramaiah, who had been expressing his desire to become the chief minister again. Some Congress leaders have supported him.
Kharge had missed an opportunity to become the chief minister in 2013.