Hubballi: Former chief minister Siddaramaiah, accused of having a running battle with deputy chief minister G. Parameswar with whom he had a shouting match on Wednesday night, with the latter storming out of a meeting when he asked him to shed the key portfolio of home, termed all such allegations as false. He also implied the decision to allocate portfolios rested not with him, but with AICC president Rahul Gandhi!
Mr. Siddaramaiah also expressed confidence that the disgruntled former minister Ramesh Jarkiholi will not desert the Congress, saying here on Thursday: “Ramesh Jarkiholi is basically a Congressman. He will not join BJP. I have not met him so far but I am confident that he will remain in our party. BJP leaders have been claiming ever since formation of the coalition government that ruling party legislators are in touch with them. Their predictions have proved wrong every time."
He was also dismissive of reports that the JD(S) is planning to fight Lok Sabha elections on its own.
“The recent by-elections were fought by forging an alliance with the coalition partner and the same strategy will be followed in the parliamentary polls,” he said.
Saying that while no discussions had been held as yet with JD(S) leaders on this matter, “we are going with JD(S) to keep communal BJP away from the power,” he added. On former minister K S Eshwarappa's description of him as a ‘discontented soul’, Siddaramaiah hit back, saying “he has no brain," and "the feeling of dissatisfaction will prevail among those who remain out of power."
