Let’s go to polls if coalition doesn’t work: Senior JD(S) leader Basavaraj Horatti

Hubballi: Just four days after trying to broker peace between Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and coordination committee chairman Siddaramaiah, senior Janata Dal (Secular) leader Basavaraj Horatti claimed on Saturday that dissolution of the Assembly and going in for a fresh election could be a good idea if the coalition government was not allowed to function freely.

Speaking to reporters in Bagalkot, he said that Congress leaders had failed to follow the “coalition dharma” despite promising to give unconditional support to Mr Kumaraswamy to serve as Chief Minister for a full five year term.

“I prefer to dissolve the Assembly and go in for a fresh election if differences between leaders of both ruling parties continue. This is my personal view and also a reflection of the people’s. We should not misuse the mandate given to us. The Chief Minister cannot provide good governance if he finds himself in a suffocating environment,” he said. Recalling that a coalition government had been formed in the past too in Karnataka, he said that such differences had never erupted between the two ruling parties.

“Legislators should not try to destabilise the government. They shaould approach their leaders to find a solution to their problems. If Congress leaders continue to harass the Chief Minister by publicly voicing their complaints the best solution could be fresh elections,” he contended.

Indirectly holding Mr Siddaramaiah responsible for the confusion between the coalition partners, he said, “All leaders are responsible for the confusion. Both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party should create a free environment to allow Mr Kumaraswamy to function efficiently instead of supporting Siddaramaiah or Yeddyurappa for the post of Chief Minister,” he emphasised.