Clip of Sriramulu saying he would like to see Siddaramaiah as CM leaves the BJP government red-faced for second time in two days.
Published Aug 17, 2022 | 9:45 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 17, 2022 | 9:45 PM
B Sriramulu, Minister for Transport and ST Welfare, Karnataka. (Twitter/sriramulubjp)
The storm over the Basavaraj Bommai government’s ministers demanding their Cabinet colleague’s resignation had barely died down when another minister has landed himself in a controversy in Karnataka.
Minister for Transport and Scheduled Caste Welfare B Sriramulu, on Wednesday, 17 August, had to issue a hurried clarification after a video clip of him batting for Congress leader Siddaramaiah to become chief minister left the Bommai government embarrassed.
In a bid to justify his statements in the video clip, Sriramulu told reporters that he was actually inviting Siddaramaiah — an unapologetic and harsh critic of the BJP-RSS combine, and a former Congress chief minister — to join the BJP.
At an event in Ballari on Tuesday, Sriramulu, while addressing a gathering of the Kuruba community to which both he and Siddaramaiah belong, said he, like many from backward classes communities, would like to see Siddaramaiah as chief minister again.
A minister in the Bommai Cabinet and counted among the most prominent ST leaders of BJP in Karnataka, Sriramulu was attempting to draw parallel between himself and the Congress leader.
B Sriramulu, Minister for Transport and ST Welfare. (Twitter/ Sriramulubjp)
“We oppose each other politically, but there is no personal rivalry. Both of us are very similar. We are striving for the welfare of the backward classes,” the minister said.
“I wish god gives him (Siddaramaiah) another opportunity to become chief minister. If god blesses me, I could become chief minister too. Will I object to him becoming CM or will he object to me becoming one,” Sriramulu asked as the crowd cheered.
The minister also hinted at helping Siddaramaiah win the Badami Assembly constituency in the 2018 state elections. Siddaramaiah had contested in two seats — Chamundeshwari and Badami — while Sriramulu contested from Molakalmuru and Badami.
Siddaramaiah defeated Sriramulu in Badami, while the latter won in Molakalmuru.
“You please inquire how Siddaramaiah won from Badami. We have our political adjustments. We ensured both of us got elected into the legislature,” Sriramulu claimed.
Sriramulu’s attempt to woo the Kuruba crowd with his purported friendship with community leader Siddaramaiah left the Bommai-led BJP government red-faced.
A day after his statements batting for Siddaramaiah at a time elections are just months away in Karnataka created a furor within the BJP and the Bommai government, Sriramulu offered a clarification on Wednesday.
“All I said was that since I was busy campaigning in more than 100 constituencies, I couldn’t give Badami too much time. I meant that Siddaramaiah took advantage of my absence and won the election,” Sriramulu told reporters.
Reiterating that he did look at Siddaramaiah as a probable chief minister, Sriramulu invited the Congress legislature party leader to join the BJP.
“My suggestion — considering even rivals are deserting the Congress and joining the BJP — to a backward classes leader like Siddaramaiah is to come join the BJP. He is irritated with the Congress and he is welcome to join the BJP under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. He can join by accepting our ideology,” Sriramulu offered as justification for his statement.
Sriramulu’s controversial statement batting for a Congress leader to become chief minister came barely a day after ministers in the Bommai Cabinet engaged in public bickering seeking Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister JC Madhuswamy’s resignation.
