Alliance is safe, Siddaramaiah its protector: H D Deve Gowda

HASSAN: The JD(S)-Congress coalition is safe from any threat after former Chief Minister and Congress leader Siddaramaiah, who is also the head of the Coordination Committee, stated that he will work in tandem with Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, observed former Prime Minister and national president of JD(S) H.D. Deve Gowda.

Addressing the gathering at the foundation laying ceremony for various development works in Hassan Assembly constituency, Mr Gowda said, “I and Siddaramaiah worked together at a time before we parted ways. Later, Siddaramaiah joined the Congress and became Chief Minister.” 

“I’m happy that Mr Siddaramaiah has taken on himself the responsibility of protecting the JDS-Co ngress coalition government,” said the JD(S) supremo. There might be some problems in Congress party and some might want to become ministers but there are no issues to worry about in the Janata Dal(S), he said and added that the Congress party is 130 years old and is capable of tackling such problems. 

Asked to comment on his one-time bête noire-Congress leader and Minister for Water Resources D.K. Shivakumar, Mr Gowda said “We were at loggerheads and are now working together. The political integration is because the situation demanded that we come together.” 

Mr Gowda termed the oath taking ceremony of Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and Dr G Parameshwar as Deputy Chief Minister, as a show of strength and a historic occasion. The occasion gave a new twist to the political history of the country,” he said.

Mr Gowda also praised Mr Kumaraswamy’s decision to cut the cess on fuel prices at a time when fuel prices are soaring high in the country. 

Later, Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy asserted that ‘four people’ cannot come together and bring down his government. “I am cool despite all the tumultous political developments, my government cannot be toppled that easily,” he stated. 

“If i fail to deliver, then I will make a graceful exit from the post and will not wait for others to show me the exit door,” Mr Kumaraswamy added.