Will there be a leadership change in Karnataka? Kumaraswamy speaks!
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Kumaraswamy believes there will be no leadership change in Karnataka.
- The 'November revolution' is unlikely to happen, according to him.
- He criticized the government's handling of the sugarcane crisis.
- Rivalry exists between Siddaramaiah and D.K. Shivakumar.
- Clarified ownership of sugar factories among party leaders.
Mysuru, Nov 7 (NationPress) In light of the ongoing disputes within Karnataka's Congress government, Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H. D. Kumaraswamy stated on Friday that he is quite familiar with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and affirmed that there will be no shift in leadership within the state.
Kumaraswamy made this assertion while addressing the media in Mysuru prior to the commencement of the District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) meeting.
When queried about the internal leadership dynamics of Congress and the rumored "November revolution," Union Minister Kumaraswamy responded: "This November will neither see a revolution nor any upheaval. I understand Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s nature very well, having witnessed it even during our time together in the party. There will be no changes," he noted.
Responding to Deputy Chief Minister and State Congress President D.K. Shivakumar's comment about having divine conversations, Kumaraswamy said: "We are unaware of what God communicates to D.K. Shivakumar; that remains between them."
On D.K. Shivakumar's assertion that Congress will regain power in 2028, Kumaraswamy remarked: "I know the fate of those who claimed they would govern for a decade or two. The future of 2028 remains uncertain."
Regarding Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's proposal to transform Mysuru into 'Greater Mysuru,' Kumaraswamy remarked: "This merely reflects the rivalry between Siddaramaiah and D.K. Shivakumar. In response to Shivakumar's 'Greater Bengaluru' announcement, Siddaramaiah declared 'Greater Mysuru.'"
"Neither of these plans will materialize—they are merely engaging in political theatrics," he added.
On the subject of the sugarcane crisis, Kumaraswamy made serious allegations against the Chief Minister, claiming he has contacted the Prime Minister to shift responsibility away from addressing the issues faced by sugarcane farmers.
The Union Minister stated, "This government in Karnataka shows no willingness to address the concerns of farmers. Instead, it is attempting to offload every problem onto the Centre to evade its responsibilities."
He emphasized that if the Chief Minister genuinely cared, resolving this issue would be a "minor task" that could be achieved swiftly.
"However, the Chief Minister is politicizing everything. His outreach to the Prime Minister is merely an attempt to dodge accountability. In which state has the Prime Minister ever had to personally intervene in sugarcane farmers' matters?" he questioned.
He suggested that rather than organizing meetings with various representatives, the Chief Minister should take decisive actions and directly engage with the farmers to resolve the crisis.
"Instead, this Congress government is preoccupied with politics," he remarked.
Kumaraswamy asserted that the Chief Minister could adopt a firm stance in favor of sugarcane farmers but has opted to blame the Centre instead.
"It seems that the CM may have yielded to pressure from local Belagavi representatives and the sugar lobby. He must resist such influences and prioritize the farmers' interests," Kumaraswamy added.
In response to reports indicating that all party leaders in the Belagavi district own sugar factories, Kumaraswamy clarified: "I have seen those reports in certain media outlets. No JD-S leader possesses a sugar factory. Only Bandepppa Kashampur previously owned one, but he sold it recently. Currently, no one in our party owns any sugar factory," the Union Minister clarified.