Gowda asks son to quit CM’s post

Former Prime Minister and JD (S) supremo H D Deve Gowda created a stir in the coalition Government in Karnataka by asking his son and Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy to quit if he is unable to deliver the promises made under the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) of the JD (S)-BJP Government.

Gowda’s remarks at a meeting of party’s state unit office bearers and district unit presidents has caused concern among the leaders of its the coalition partner BJP, which is bracing itself to take over power from the JD (S) during October this year.

Gowda not only made it clear that he was not happy with the functioning of the coalition Government in Karnataka, but also asked his son to come out of the coalition if he found it difficult to pursue the CMP.

Despite several pro-poor programmes announced by the Government, Gowda regretted that employment growth had actually come down during the last 14 months of coalition rule in the State. The government has failed to generate any fresh employment opportunities to the rural youth, Gowda lamented.

Reiterating that he was against the alliance with the BJP, the former Prime Minister said people were favouring only regional parties to protect the interests of the state and hence, he said, the JD (S) had no apprehensions about facing the coming elections to urban local bodies in Karnataka on its own.

Gowda also trained his guns directly at the BJP for launching a Vikas Yatra in Karnataka. “Such yatras do not help in the development of the State”, he said.

The JD (S) supremo took serious exception to BJP leader and Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa for “magnanimously” providing funds to religious institutions. “It will not bring any prosperity to the state. Instead, the focus should be on eradication of poverty”, Gowda said.