Congress-JDS spat has been in out in public since the alliance lost power to BJP in Karnataka. Historically, the two parties have been arch-rivals in the state of Karnataka but came together only to keep the BJP out of power after the 2018 state assembly election. The alliance sailed somehow for a year but it was always a stormy one with accusations flying from both sides, mostly resulting in a moist eyed CM.
The leaders of BJP and JDS have been involved in a dirty game of mudslinging each other since the collation lost power in the state. In an interview with The Hindu, Kumaraswamy said that “Mr. Siddaramaiah treated the JDS as a bigger enemy than the BJP.” He also accused Siddaramaiah of conspiracy to unseat him. “As the Chief Minister, I was getting information from my senior party colleagues about the move by Mr. Siddaramaiah to unseat me. It was all planned,” said Kumaraswamy.
He also said that Congress legislators repeatedly humiliated him and the party treated him like a clerk. “The 14 months that I was in power, the Congress treated me like a clerk. How long do you want to be a slave? I have even been humiliated by a Congress legislator, who threw a bunch of papers in my face.”
In reply to Kumaraswamy’s allegations, Siddaramaiah said, “There lies the problem. He (Kumaraswamy) started nurturing grudge against me by treating me as an enemy. Instead of foe, had he considered me as a friend, a trusted man and an ally from the coalition party, nothing would have happened.”
In last few days, both parties accused the other for the fall of the alliance government. The Congress-JDS alliance government that lasted a mere 14 months did not have a smooth sailing from day one.
Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka, G. Parameshwara had earlier said that an alliance with the JDS is not good for the long term but also conceded that they had no other options. After HD Kumaraswamy’s oath as the Chief Minister of Karnataka, a bitter fight between Congress and JDS ensued over the distribution of cabinet portfolios in the government.
Siddaramaiah jeered at the incumbent CM HD Kumaraswamy on farm loan waiver. He said, “We have coalition government in the state but all the schemes that were introduced by me during our government continue.” He further added, “I have already waived off farmer loans so what more to do?”
Siddaramaiah and H D Deve Gowda, Kumaraswamy’s father do not see eye to eye. Deve Gowda Siddaramaiah was made by him and he repaid the debt with backstabbing and deceit. He even called Siddaramaiah ‘mean’. To quote Deve Gowda “…………….The Chief Minister (Siddaramaiah) who is mean to this extent, has grown from this party (JDS). Is he a Chief Minister? How long will you stay? I will see. I have taken a vow. I will today seek apology from the people of Karnataka for grooming such an immoral politician.” “…….Grooming such a lowly Chief Minister is my biggest mistake. I will repeatedly say he is unfit to continue in the post.” he further added.
The alliance between Congress and JDS was formed in desperation to get power and keep BJP out. But such ‘opportunistic’ alliances could not bury the inter party rivalry and deep hatred for the leaders of other parties and this became evident in Congress JDS case.