Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Monday ruled out any threat to his eight-month old government, dismissing speculations that disgruntled Congress MLAs could pose trouble in the coming budget session of the assembly by staying away from it. The chief minister also said he was in regular touch with the Congress MLAs and asserted that the JDS-Congress ministry would not only survive before but also post the Lok Sabha elections and complete its full five-year term.
His remarks come amid reports that disgruntled Congress lawmakers on the BJP’s radar for poaching as part of its bid to topple the ruling coalition might keep away from the session beginning February 6. “I have no problem. I am relaxed. Some sections of media are projecting instability, saying disgruntled legislators will not attend the session… They (Cong MLAs) are in regular touch with me.
I don’t know whether they are in touch with the Congress. I spoke to them today also. They will come to the session… no problem,” Kumaraswamy said. Speaking to the media here, the JDS leader also said that he would do “whatever needs to be done” to ensure that the government completed its full term.
Let there be deadlines or allurements (to poach MLAs from the ruling coalition). I know how to remove the fuse,” he said, as he sought to puncture the claims of BJP that his government might not survive even to present the state budget. He also claimed that there were “many people” within the BJP itself to “safeguard” him in the event of any threat to his government.
Kumaraswamy’s worries have been mounting with the shadow boxing within the Congress raising questions about his leadership and BJP ratcheting up pressure with its alleged toppling bid that had recently triggered a political turmoil. He had recently threatened to quit if the Congress leaders continued to take potshots at him.
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