Devegowda a master in toppling governments: Siddaramaiah

“Devegowda is a master in toppling governments. If the JD(S)-Congress coalition government has collapsed, it is only due to then chief minister Kumaraswamy, Revanna and Devegowda. But Devegowda is wrongly blaming me for it,” alleged former chief minister Siddaramaiah.

Countering the allegations made by JD(S) patriarch H.D. Devegowda against Siddaramaiah, accusing him of having toppled the coalition government, the Kuruba leader on Friday hit back at the former prime minister, saying Devegowda's charges were politically motivated.  

Devegowda had claimed that Siddaramaiah could not digest seeing Kumaraswamy as the chief minister. He also had said Siddaramaiah had political rivalry with Kumaraswamy and that the Congress leader could not tolerate it when the high command, without consulting him, extended support to the JD(S). 

"Let me make it clear that I was keen that a communal party like the BJP does not come to power. In fact, when Ghulam Nabi Azad and (Ashok) Gehlot came down to form the coalition, I agreed and have extended my support to the coalition for all 14 months," said Siddaramaiah, who squarely blamed Kumaraswamy for the collapse of the government. 

The former CM said, "Congress MLAs and some ministers told me that Kumaraswamy, Revanna and Devegowda are solely responsible for the collapse of the government. They said if they had taken all MLAs into confidence, there would be no dissidence or rebels. Kumaraswamy took unilateral decisions and never took minister's into confidence. I, too, have been a chief minister serving a full term. Why didn't the MLAs go against me? To conceal their mistakes, they are now blaming others." 

Recalling that he was made the coordination committee chairman by the Congress high command as he was also the Congress Legislature Party leader, Siddaramaiah said, "The coordination committee might have held 4-5 meetings.  But Kumaraswamy did not implement any decision taken there, though he nodded in agreement to everything. The high command wanted us to support the coalition for five years. We all complied with the decision. But the JD(S) caused the collapse." 

Siddaramaiah said Devegowda's charge that he had toppled the government as he wanted to be the leader of opposition was laughable.

"Will anybody topple a government to become the leader of opposition?  It is all Devegowda's imagination. I never chased power. I will not indulge in cheap politics of toppling a government. It is a trait of Devegowda and his sons. Devegowda is a master in toppling governments. Who toppled Bommai government? Again in 2004, the JD(S) gave support to Dharam Singh government and later withdrew it. Now, who had jumped to the BJP camp overnight?  Without Devegowda's consent HDK could never have joined hands with the BJP in 2006 and become the CM. In the 20-20 government, Kumaraswamy refused to step down. Both HDK and HDD were responsible for the BJP bagging 110 seats in 2008. They are responsible for the BJP growing stronger in the state," slammed Siddaramaiah.  

Rubbishing the JD(S) claims that he was responsible for the defeat of Devegowda in Tumkur and his grandson Nikhil Kumar in Mandya, Siddaramaiah said the Devegowda family was defeated as the people rejected the family politics. "People were upset because they fielded the Thatha-Mommaklu (grand father-grandsons). Devegowda blames me for the defeat. What happened in Kolar, Chikkaballapur,  Mysuru and Chamrajnagar, where the JD(S) was strong? Why did they not transfer their vote to our candidate? In fact, G.T. Devegowda openly claimed that the JD(S) had voted for the BJP. But no action was taken against him. If I criticise HDD, it is not like I target his caste. But, he plays the caste card well. It is all his old gimmicks," said Siddaramaiah. 

Revealing that he had not favoured an alliance for the Parliament polls, he said, "It is true that for Parliament elections, I had told high command that it was better to go for friendly fight, as the JD(S) and the Congress in Old Mysuru region have always fought each other bitterly. But after we decided to go together, Devegowda and me have campaigned together in five districts. Prajwal Revanna won in Hassan where I campaigned. Devegowda should say what happened in other constituencies," Siddaramaiah demanded.