Jana Kalyana Samavesha at Hassan turned out to be a show of unity as Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar and AICC General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala launched a broadside against JD(S) patriarch and former prime minister HD Deve Gowda.
Published Dec 05, 2024 | 8:16 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 05, 2024 | 8:16 PM
CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar at the Jana Kalyana Samavesha in Hassan on Thursday. (Supplied)
Hours after Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah categorically denied having any power-sharing agreement with Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, the latter showed his support to the former.
“There is no power-sharing pact between us. We will act as per the high command’s decision,” Siddaramaiah said in Hassan on Thursday, 5 December.
Besides the chief minister, Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara, too, refuted rumours of a power-sharing pact between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar.
The deputy chief minister’s recent statement to a media organisation had sparked speculations of a possible power sharing pact. “There is an understanding with the party’s high command regarding the transfer of power. I will raise it at the appropriate time,” he had said in the interview.
Parameshwara, himself a chief minister aspirant, said he was unaware of any such understanding, “I am not sure in what context Shivakumar made those remarks. If there is a pact, then why should the rest of us be involved? Let the two of them handle it and engage in politics. Shouldn’t there be space for others?,” Parameshwara said.
“The high command will make a final decision. I will not go beyond what the high command decides. I will abide by their decision. As of now, I have no knowledge of any such pact,” he added.
A quiet race has been brewing between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar after the chief minister’s supporters organised a convention, Swabimana Smavesha in Siddaramaiah’s honour, in Hassan. However, it was forcefully turned into a full-fledged party event after a few leaders anonymously complained to the party chief Mallikarjun Kharge. They complained that Siddaramaiah was not using the party symbol in the convention.
In response, Shivakumar, also the Karnataka PCC President, declared the event as a party function and renamed it Jana Kalyana Samavesha.
The event at Hassan turned out to be a show of unity as Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar and AICC General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala launched a broadside against JD(S) patriarch and former prime minister HD Deve Gowda.
Incidentally, Hassan is considered to be the home turf of Deve Gowda. Speaking at the event, Siddaramaiah said the former prime minister was repeatedly derailing the political aspirations of Vokkaliga leaders.
Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar and Surjewala accused the Narendra Modi-led Union government of discriminating against Karnataka while allocating grants and implementing development projects.
Amid talks of power sharing, Shivakumar declared his unwavering support for chief minister Siddaramaiah at Hassan. “I have said in Mysuru that I will stand behind Siddaramaiah like a rock. I am still standing, and I will continue to do so tomorrow and until my last breath.”
“This is the history of the Kanakapura rock. Wherever I work, I do so with utmost honest that is my duty,” Shivakumar said.
Thanking people of Hassan for electing Shreyas Patel to the parliament, Shivakumar said: “The strength of this government is immense. Our five guarantees are permanent. In 2028, we will return to power with 100 percent certainty. No one can change this. The people have already responded to the lies of BJP and JD(S) in Sandur, Shiggaon, and Channapatna.”
Though the leaders put up a united front, Shivakumar’s statement on power-sharing pact has caused discord within the party.
ಹಾಸನದ ಎಸ್.ಎಂ.ಕೃಷ್ಣ ನಗರದಲ್ಲಿ ಸ್ವಾಭಿಮಾನಿ ಒಕ್ಕೂಟಗಳ ಜಂಟಿ ಆಶ್ರಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಇಂದು ಹಮ್ಮಿಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದ ಜನಕಲ್ಯಾಣ ಸಮಾವೇಶವನ್ನು ಮಾನ್ಯ ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿಗಳು ಹಾಗೂ ನಾನು ಉದ್ಘಾಟಿಸಿದೆವು. ಈ ವೇಳೆ ಸಮಾವೇಶ ಉದ್ದೇಶಿಸಿ ಮಾತನಾಡಿದೆ.
ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ ಶಕ್ತಿ ಈ ದೇಶದ ಶಕ್ತಿ, ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ ಇತಿಹಾಸ ಈ ದೇಶದ ಇತಿಹಾಸ. ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಅಧಿಕಾರಕ್ಕೆ… pic.twitter.com/cMS2mOAJr1
— DK Shivakumar (@DKShivakumar) December 5, 2024
Siddaramaiah slams Deve Gowda
Addressing the function, Siddaramaiah questioned Deve Gowda’s commitment to secularism and his role in fostering the growth of other leaders, especially Vokkaligas.
Before attacking the JD(S), Siddaramaiah clarified that his government would not cancel any of the five guarantee schemes.
“Deve Gowda always claimed that JD(S) is a secular party. During the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, he insisted that the BJP would not return to power and even said he would leave the country if Narendra Modi became prime minister again,” Siddaramaiah remarked, urging Deve Gowda not to leave the country.
ದೇವೇಗೌಡರು ರಾಜಕೀಯವಾಗಿ ಒಕ್ಕಲಿಗ ನಾಯಕರನ್ನು ನಿರಂತರವಾಗಿ ಮುಗಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಬಚ್ಚೇಗೌಡರು, ವೈ.ಕೆ.ರಾಮಯ್ಯ, ಬೈರೇಗೌಡರು, ಕೃಷ್ಣಪ್ಪ, ಚಲುವರಾಯಸ್ವಾಮಿ ಸೇರಿ ಎಷ್ಟು ಮಂದಿ ಒಕ್ಕಲಿಗ ನಾಯಕರನ್ನು ದೇವೇಗೌಡರು ರಾಜಕೀಯವಾಗಿ ಮುಗಿಸಿದರು. ಒಕ್ಕಲಿಗ ನಾಯಕರಾಗಿದ್ದ ಕೃಷ್ಣಪ್ಪ ಅವರು ಆಗಲೇ ಈ ಪಾಪದ ಹೊರೆಯನ್ನು ಹೊರಬೇಕಾಗುತ್ತದೆ ಎಂದು… pic.twitter.com/DC8WovCNgc
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) December 5, 2024
Highlighting the former prime minister’s age and stature, Siddaramaiah said, “Deve Gowda is 15 years senior to me. He should have spoken with dignity, considering his age. Instead, in Channapatna, he said he would shatter my arrogance.”
The chief minister strongly condemned such remarks, adding, “He camped in Channapatna for a week to ensure the victory of his grandson (Nikhil Kumaraswamy). During the campaign, Deve Gowda, Kumaraswamy, and Nikhil shed tears.”
“While the people of Hassan continue to wash their hands in tears and women live in apprehension, they should have shed tears at least once in Hassan. Deve Gowda barely visits Hassan,” he further said.
Criticising Deve Gowda for failing to stand up to the Union government, Siddaramaiah accused him of remaining silent on issues like disparities in grant allocation, reduced NABARD credit limits, and the denial of funds as per the 15th Finance Commission’s recommendations to the state.
Accusing Deve Gowda of stifling the growth of leaders, Siddaramaiah said: “He does not want others to grow, not even Vokkaliga leaders. Did he ensure the growth of leaders like Bachegowda, Byre Gowda, YK Ramaiah, Nagegowda, or HD Krishnappa? He held them all back.”
Siddaramaiah further alleged: “BL Shankar and YK Ramaiah were like his sons, yet he didn’t let them grow. Senior Vokkaliga leader HD Krishnappa had once said in 2010 that Gowda would eventually have to bear the burden of his wrongdoings. Today, Krishnappa’s words have come true. If I had made such comments, they would accuse me of speaking against Vokkaligas.”
The chief minister dared Deve Gowda to name even one Vokkaliga leader whose growth he has supported, stating, “If Jalappa and I had not supported him in 1994, he wouldn’t have become the chief minister. Ramakrishna Hegde would have taken that position instead.”
Siddaramaiah dismissed Deve Gowda’s claims of making him finance minister. “It was AK Subbaiah, Mahadevappa, Satish Jarkiholi, BR Patil, Venkatesh, Mahadevappa, and I who built the JD(S). I was expelled from the party for holding the AHINDA convention at Hubballi.”
Expressing his disappointment with JD(S)’s political stance, Siddaramaiah criticized its decision to ally with the BJP, which instigated communal tensions, despite projecting itself as a secular party.
Also Read: Congress leaders withdraw from Panchamasali reservation stir
Highlighting Congress’s growing dominance in the old Mysuru, the Shivakumar said: “We won all four seats in Ramanagara, six in Mandya, and increased our tally in Mysuru, Chamarajanagar, Kodagu, and Chikkamagaluru. I am confident we will win more seats in Hassan as well,” he said while asking the people to support the party.
“During elections, Kumaraswamy cried in Channapatna, asking for votes. What is his track record? What is the track record of Deve Gowda’s family in Hassan? I do not wish to comment on their former MPs. Even talking about them disgusts me,” Shivakumar added.
“We are not here just for politics; we are here to be partners in your lives. Our party stands united, while BJP is in turmoil. We keep our promises, while they break theirs,” the deputy chief minister asserted that party was standing united.
Meanwhile, Surjewala hit out at the Modi government, stating that Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar were being attacked by the saffron cadre for being the voice of the Dalits, oppressed, poor, women, youth and minorities.
Ministers HK Patil, Satish Jarkiholi, Laxmi Hebbalkar, K Venkatesh, RB Thimmapur, Dr HC Mahadevappa, Madhu Bangarappa, and other party leaders were present.
(Edited by Majnu Babu)
