Leader of opposition Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge speaks to Janata Dal (secular) Chief Deve Gowda. (Arijit Sen/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)Janata Dal (Secular) chief and former Prime Minister Deve Gowda has accused the Congress of forcing the Chief Minister post on his party, The Hindu reports.
The finance portfolio is a bone of contention between the JD(S) and the Congress, Gowda admitted, according to the report.
“Congress is seeking the Finance portfolio and no decision has been taken on the contentious issue,” he was quoted as saying.
“AICC leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ashok Gehlot met me and offered to extend support in making Kumaraswamy Chief Minister. I told them let the Congress take the post of CM and the JD(S) would extend support. Even after prolonged discussions, they did not budge from their stand. If the Congress is not ready to give the Finance portfolio, what can we do?,” he added.
Gowda’s statement comes just days after his son and Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said he would resign if he fails to deliver on the promise of a farm loan waiver. In a meeting with farmer outfits on Wednesday, he sought 15 days time to announce the waiver of farmers loans in the state.
When asked about Kumaraswamy’s statement on resigning as Chief Minister, Gowda said he was speaking from his heart.
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