Kumaraswamy to continue as Karnataka CM for 20 more months – JD (S) Minister

Fresh doubts have been raised over BJP assuming power in Karnataka in the wake of JD (S) Minister Iqbal Ansari’s claim that Kumaraswamy will continue as the Chief Minister of the State for 20 more months after his term at the helm ends in October this year.

Addressing an election meeting at Ullal, where by-elections to the Assembly are scheduled for June 2, Ansari told the gathering that power will not be handed over to the BJP after Kumaraswamy’s 20-month tenure ends. “He will continue as the Chief Minister even for the remaining 20 months”, Ansari said.

Significantly, Ansari made the statement in the presence of Kumaraswamy, who is heading a JD (S)-BJP coalition Government in the State. He was addressing a predominantly Muslim gathering in Ullal, which is part of communally sensitive Dakshina Kannada district in Karnataka.

Seeking votes for JD (S) candidate Abubakr, the Labour Minister said the JD (S) is committed to ensuring communal peace in the region. “Power will not be handed over the BJP at any cost. Kumaraswamy will continue as the Chief Minister of the State”, Ansari said.

Endorsing Ansari’s statement, another JD (S) Minister D T Jayakumar, who holds the Housing portfolio, said the partymen were in favour of Kumaraswamy continuing for the remaining 20 months. “But, a final decision in the matter will be taken by the leaders”, he said.

Though the JD (S) Ministers’ clamour for continuation of Kumaraswamy as the Chief Minister has caused concern among the BJP leaders, the party’s state unit President Sadananda Gowda chose against attaching much importance to the Labour Minister’s statement.

“The JD (S) Minister has made the statement in the heat of the election campaign. The BJP would see it as an election gimmick. There is no doubt about JD (S) transferring power to BJP at the end of Kumaraswamy’s term in October”, Sadananda Gowda said.

BJP leader and Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, who is tipped to take over as Chief Minister, refused to react to the JD (S) leaders’ claim on transfer of power. “I have decided not to speak anything about transfer of power”, he said in reply to queries from reporters.

Meanwhile, Kumaraswamy said he was not aware of the intention behind Ansari’s statement. “I don’t know whether it was an electoral strategy. I will speak to Ansari and find out”, he said.