Had Siddaramaiah done well, Congress wouldn’t have lost last polls: AH Vishwanath

Mysuru: State Janata Dal (Secular) president A.H. Vishwanath has triggered a fresh row in the ruling Congress-JD(S) coalition asking why the number of Congress MLAs in the state Assembly fell from 130 to 78 in the May 2018 Assembly election if he (Siddaramaiah) had provided good administration as he claimed.

Speaking to the media here regarding the statements being issued by some Congress leaders considered Siddaramaiah's loyalists on him becoming chief minister again, Mr Vishwanath said, “It is only a few of his (Siddaramaiah) ardent supporters who are lobbying for him to become CM. Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has been providing good administration. He will complete his five-year term. Let us see how many seats the Congress will get after this term (which will end in 2022), people will then decide who will become CM,” he said while terming the calls for Siddaramaiah's return as Chief Minister by his loyalists as 'chamchagiri.'

The JD(S) chief also made it clear that his party will face the local body elections independently.

He said, “If we enter into a coalition with the Congress for these polls, JD(S) leaders will not get adequate opportunities to contest."

On Mr Kumaraswamy's frequent visits to resorts after the Lok Sabha polls, he said, “Has he locked up Vidhana Soudha and rested at a resort? There are officers and he is holding regular meetings with them and giving them necessary directions. The administration has been functioning well. It is natural for anyone to relax where one finds peace,” he added.