‘Son under pressure, but we won’t blame anyone’

HASSAN: HD Deve Gowda, JD(S) patriarch, on Sunday said chief minister HD Kumaraswamy is under tremendous pressure running the coalition government with the Congress, but he is not going to blame anybody for it.
“Running a coalition government with the Congress having 78 MLAs is not easy,” the former PM said at a rally on Sunday. “But Kumaraswamy is managing well though he is under pressure.Both parties are aware of their social responsibilities.”
He also appeared annoyed with the Congress’ condition that they continue all programmes of the Siddaramaiah government. “Though it is difficult, we have managed to waive farm loans despite continuing all programmes of the Siddaramaiah government,” he said.
The JD(S) patriarch also criticized PM Narendra Modi for not fulfilling promises he doled out during elections. “But Kumaraswamy, as promised during the assembly election, has waived farmer’s loan,” Gowda said. “In the state budget, he plans to increase old age pension for persons above 70 years.”
Backs Rahul for PM
Gowda also extended support to AICC chief Rahul Gandhi to become the Prime Minister. “If Rahul becomes the PM, is there anybody to stop him?” he asked.
This comes a day after the BSP-SP announced a seatsharing pact in Uttar Pradesh, which sends 80 MPs to the Lok Sabha, leaving the Congress out of the alliance. While non-Congress leaders have welcomed the BSP-SP alliance, Gowda threw his weight behind Gandhi.
Prajwal’s name not cleared
Gowda said JD(S) general secretary Prajwal Revanna's name has not been yet for the Hassan Lok Sabha seat. “Though I have plans to field him from Hassan, the final decision has not yet been taken. It requires a meeting with senior leaders of the party.”