BJP has ruined secular image of JD (S) - Kumaraswamy

In a politically explosive statement that could rock the JD (S)-BJP coalition in Karnataka, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy claimed that the secular image of the JD (S) had been ruined on account of its alliance with the BJP.

Speaking to reporters in Gulbarga yesterday, Kumaraswamy said the minority communities would drift away from the JD (S) if the party continues its relationship with the BJP.

Kumaraswamy also expressed displeasure over BJP Ministers in the State claiming credit for a host of programmes of the coalition Government like banning of lottery and arrack.

Kumaraswamy’s offensive against the BJP barely one and a half months before transfer of power to the saffron party has raised fresh doubts over continuation of the coalition.

When reporters queried the Chief Minister on the scheduled transfer of power, Kumaraswamy asked the media to wait till October 3. Two days ago, Kumaraswamy said the JD (S) was ready to hand over power, but added that there was confusion among the BJP leaders on who would don the coveted mantle.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa refused to react to Kumaraswamy’s statement that the BJP had damaged the secular image of the JD (S). He told reporters that the BJP had decided to stop discussing the issue of transfer of power in public.

“I have told our leaders and workers to stop talking about the transfer of power”, said Yediyurappa after participating in a function organized at Vidhana Soudha in Bangalore to wish a bon voyage to the Karnataka legislators, who left for China yesterday.

Kumaraswamy’s public statements about the pitfalls of entering into an alliance with the BJP come close on the heels of an unmistakable bonhomie between JD (S) and Congress leaders during the swearing in ceremony of the new Governor of Karnataka Rameshwar Thakur at Raj Bhavan in Bangalore on Tuesday.

For the first time after the fall of the Dharam Singh-led Congress-JD (S) coalition in February 2006, JD (S) supremo H D Deve Gowda, former Chief Minister Dharam Singh, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President M Mallikarjun Kharge and former Federal Minister C K Jaffer Sharief arrived for a public function together.

Soon after the swearing in ceremony, Gowda took everyone by surprise when he hugged Jaffer Sharief and shook hands with Kharge and Dharam Singh with a broad grin. The renewed camaraderie between Congress and JD (S) leaders appear accentuated in the absence of BJP leaders. Though Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa was also present on the occasion, he appeared grim and left the premises soon after the conclusion of the oath-taking ceremony.

But, Gowda and the Congress leaders continued their friendly banter even at the lunch hosted by Kumaraswamy at the Banquet Hall of Vidhana Soudha to bid a farewell to outgoing Governor T N Chaturvedi and to welcome the new Governor Rameshwar Thakur. Gowda was spotted chatting with Singh and Kharge for almost half an hour at a corner of the Banquet Hall.