Karnataka CM creating misunderstanding in JDS: Kumaraswamy

Bangalore, Aug 18: JDS leader H D Kumaraswamy on Monday accused Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of trying to create misunderstanding within his party (JDS) and asserted that none of his party MLAs would leave the organisation. "...my firm belief is that no one will leave the party; sometimes our MLAs meet the Chief Minister regarding work related to their constituency, but he is showing his narrow minded attitude by misusing it," Kumaraswamy said while addressing the JDS workers state level conference.

He said "he (Siddaramaiah) is trying to create misunderstanding among us by giving out some 'reliable source' based information to the media about the MLAs meeting with him (indicating they would quit JDS)." MLAs meeting the Chief Minister for their constituency related work is being misrepresented, and this is causing confusion among party workers, he said.

Kumaraswamy's comment comes just a day after former Prime Minister and JDS supremo H D Deve Gowda said those party leaders willing to support Congress in the August 21 Assembly bypoll to Shikaripura constituency could either join any of the two national parties or remain in JDS and work to strengthen it. Speculation is rife that three JDS leaders, Madhu Bangarappa, Chelavurayaswamy, and Zameer Ahmed Khan, have been cosying up to the Congress.

Also, Siddaramaiah had claimed on August 13 that local JDS leaders had expressed willingness to support Congress in the Shikaripura bypoll to unseat BJP which has fielded former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa's son B Y Raghavendra. At the conference, JDS workers demanded that Kumaraswamy be made the state President to strengthen the party in the state.

PTI