It’s just been 2 months since the coalition of the JD(S) and Congress was formed, headed by Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, and the alliance is already in crisis. More unfortunate news is that the crisis has erupted just before the 2019 crucial general elections, which may affect the chances of collation partners and many in the corridor of power.

Many  netas in the Congress  are worried over Kumaraswamy’s handling of the situation and internally blame him for the irresponsible statement made by him which stoked the emotions.  Congress still remembers under Siddaramaiah the controversial dividing of Lingayat issue backfired and helped BJP in the North Karnataka.

Meanwhile in a major political development as a prelude to the issue of separate State for North Karnataka, on Tuesday  more than 30 powerful seers of religious mutts of North Karnataka protested in front of Suvarna Vidhana Soudha at Belagavi  against lack of developmental initiatives in the region by successive Governments.

The agitation assumed significance in the back drop of North Karnataka Bandh on August second demanding separate Statehood.  However, the seers were clear in their stand that they were not in support of separate statehood for the region, but wanted the Government to take up overall development of the region which was neglected for decades.

The agitators warned the JD(S)-Congress coalition Government headed by Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy that agitation will be intensified and the State Government will become responsible for the consequences if developmental activities were not taken up.

Opposition leader in the Legislative Assembly BS Yeddyurappa, who met the agitating Seers, expressed his party’s full support for their cause and underlined that the BJP was against division of the State and will not support bandh call on August 2.

He said  “I appeal to those who have given call to withdraw it since nothing can be achieved by becoming a  separate State. I assure them that BJP will fight for the cause both inside the Legislative Assembly and outside for overall development of the region.”

Yeddyurappa  blamed JDs, its supremo HD Devegowda and his son Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy for stoking the issue of separate state for north Karnataka.

He said  “father and son playing politics by flaring up cry for separate Statehood for their selfish motto.  As a Chief Minster Kumaraswamy has no right to say that this part of the people have no right to ask for development projects since they have not voted for his party.  He is the Chief Minister of entire State and not of only 37 MLAs of his party.”

He also  demanded Congress leaders to make public their party’s stand on the issue.  He alleged that senior Congress leaders including that party leader in the Lok Sabha M Mallikarjun Kharge and former Chief Minster Siddaramaiah were  silent on the issue despite a strong criticism is aired against the Government.

Leaders from the region, consisting of 13 districts, are planning a bandh on August 2 to press their demand, much to BJP’s delight.

Meanwhile, several BJP workers, who are in support of the demand for a separate state, protested outside Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy’s home in Hubballi and tried to vandalise the property.

The local police, deployed at the spot detained several BJP workers and dispersed the crowd.

Writer:  Kestur Vasuki

Courtesy: The Pioneer

It’s just been 2 months since the coalition of the JD(S) and Congress was formed, headed by Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, and the alliance is already in crisis. More unfortunate news is that the crisis has erupted just before the 2019 crucial general elections, which may affect the chances of collation partners and many in the corridor of power.

Many  netas in the Congress  are worried over Kumaraswamy’s handling of the situation and internally blame him for the irresponsible statement made by him which stoked the emotions.  Congress still remembers under Siddaramaiah the controversial dividing of Lingayat issue backfired and helped BJP in the North Karnataka.

Meanwhile in a major political development as a prelude to the issue of separate State for North Karnataka, on Tuesday  more than 30 powerful seers of religious mutts of North Karnataka protested in front of Suvarna Vidhana Soudha at Belagavi  against lack of developmental initiatives in the region by successive Governments.

The agitation assumed significance in the back drop of North Karnataka Bandh on August second demanding separate Statehood.  However, the seers were clear in their stand that they were not in support of separate statehood for the region, but wanted the Government to take up overall development of the region which was neglected for decades.

The agitators warned the JD(S)-Congress coalition Government headed by Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy that agitation will be intensified and the State Government will become responsible for the consequences if developmental activities were not taken up.

Opposition leader in the Legislative Assembly BS Yeddyurappa, who met the agitating Seers, expressed his party’s full support for their cause and underlined that the BJP was against division of the State and will not support bandh call on August 2.

He said  “I appeal to those who have given call to withdraw it since nothing can be achieved by becoming a  separate State. I assure them that BJP will fight for the cause both inside the Legislative Assembly and outside for overall development of the region.”

Yeddyurappa  blamed JDs, its supremo HD Devegowda and his son Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy for stoking the issue of separate state for north Karnataka.

He said  “father and son playing politics by flaring up cry for separate Statehood for their selfish motto.  As a Chief Minster Kumaraswamy has no right to say that this part of the people have no right to ask for development projects since they have not voted for his party.  He is the Chief Minister of entire State and not of only 37 MLAs of his party.”

He also  demanded Congress leaders to make public their party’s stand on the issue.  He alleged that senior Congress leaders including that party leader in the Lok Sabha M Mallikarjun Kharge and former Chief Minster Siddaramaiah were  silent on the issue despite a strong criticism is aired against the Government.

Leaders from the region, consisting of 13 districts, are planning a bandh on August 2 to press their demand, much to BJP’s delight.

Meanwhile, several BJP workers, who are in support of the demand for a separate state, protested outside Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy’s home in Hubballi and tried to vandalise the property.

The local police, deployed at the spot detained several BJP workers and dispersed the crowd.

Writer:  Kestur Vasuki

Courtesy: The Pioneer