The Karnataka Chief Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy addressed the Janata Dal (Secular) party workers on Saturday and declared with a heavy heart and emotional eyes that he was “not happy” as the head of the state. This news came at a time when the Indian National Congress (INC) and the JD (S) coalition is facing tension.
The INC and the JD (S) had competed with each other during the Karnataka Legislative Assembly elections. Yet after the result, the INC decided to support the JD (S) candidate and form a coalition government. This was a result of the hung parliament after elections as BJP, which emerged as the single largest party with 104 seats, fell short of 8 seats to form the government on their own and lost the popular confidence during the floor test.
The JD (S) leader was quoted saying, “You are all happy that your elder or younger brother has become the CM but I am not happy. I am swallowing the pain like Vishakantha (Lord Shiva who drank poison to save the world).”
As Kumaraswamy wiped his tears, the crowd cheered, “We are with you.” He further said that he was upset because the people showered with so much love did not vote for him in the elections.
The Chief Minister (CM) has been attacked by the opposition as well as the coalition since he took charge as the head of the state on May 23. On July 5, his government brought out the first budget and disclosed Rs. 34,000 crore farm loan waiver and an additional Rs. 10,700 crore crop loan waiver from cooperative banks. His budget faced immediate attack from within the coalition. Former minister, H. K. Patil demanded the government to start programmes for minorities in Karnataka.
In a recent letter, the former CM and INC-JD (S) coalition committee head, Siddaramaiah demanded Kumaraswamy o roll back his decision on petrol and diesel price hike and reduce the supply of rice under the Anna Bhagya Scheme that he proposed in the budget.
