‘Won’t speak of differences with JD(S) on the streets’

MYSURU: Coordination committee ch airman and former chief minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday made no bones of his displeasure with top brass of coalition partner J D(S) over the appointment of Congress legislators to various boards and corporations, but said he will not speak about it in a public forum.

“I’ll not speak about it on the streets,” he replied when asked about

PWD minister HD Revanna

’s comments that Congress leaders had cornered posts to coveted boards and corporations and yet are targeting the JD(S) without reason.

Siddaramaiah said the issu e will be discussed at a meeting of the coordination committee. While he denied Congress leaders are upset with chief minister HD Kumaraswamy for not clearing some appointments, brushing off the question by saying “not all will be happy all the time in politics”.

The former CM said leaders of the two parties will discuss seat-sharing for the

Lok Sabha

polls during the coordination committee meeting next week.

Although he welcomed the move, he called the Centre’s proposal to provide 10% reservation for economically backward upper castes an election gimmick. But he welcomed the move.

“The BJP always opposed reservation,” he said. “But now it is seeking to provide reservation for the poor. This is nothing but a poll gimmick designed to get public support.” He refused to comment on BJP leaders’ demand for the resignation of backward classes minister C Puttaranga Shetty who faces charges of corruption. A staff of Shetty was found with Rs 25 lakh unaccounted cash at the Vidhana Soudha. “The ACB is probing the case and I’ll speak after it submits a report,” Siddaramaiah said.


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