NEW DELHI: BJP IT Cell head and co-in-charge of West Bengal Amit Malviya on Sunday tweeted two video clips and claimed that infighting is raging in Karnataka Congress with party MLC B K Hariprasad confronting chief minister Siddaramaiah.
In a tweet, Malviya targetted Congress’s former Rajya Sabha MP and national general secretary Hariprasad and said that the latter is challenging Siddaramaiah for not being considered for a ministerial berth in the southern state which went to polls in May.
The BJP leader said, “After being overlooked for a ministerial position in Karnataka, MLC B K Hariprasad has taken on Siddaramaiah. He accused him of overlooking interest of other backward communities (except his own), and urged Ediga, Billava, Namdhari and Deevara, to unite politically (presumably to cut Karnataka CM down to size).”
Malviya said after Rajasthan, which lost five precious years because of constant bickering between Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot, now the Congress leaders in Karnataka are fighting each other.
He accused the Congress government in Karnataka of not delivering on its ‘5 Guarantees’. “And all that we hear is their leaders snapping at each other,” he said.
Malviya said, “We saw that even in Chhattisgarh. Bhupesh Baghel and T S Singh Deo had a running feud. If you want governance and development, NEVER elect the Congress.”
Malviya later tweeted another video clip and quoted Hariprasad, former leader of opposition in the Karnataka legislative council, as saying, “I know how to make a CM, I know how to make them step down…”
The BJP leader remarked, “Congress MLC B K Hariprasad on Siddaramaiah. Is it him speaking or D K Shivkumar? It will be interesting to see how long can the Congress government survive between these warring factions. Karnataka will suffer though.”
The Karnataka assembly election was held on May 10 and results were declared on May 13. The BJP suffered a massive defeat at the hands of the Congress.
While the Congress swept the election by winning 135 of the total 224 assembly seats, the BJP got restricted to just 66 seats. Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda-led JD(S) could win only 19 seats.
However, there was a tussle between Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar for the CM’s post. After several rounds of negotiations with the central leadership, Siddaramaiah was anointed the CM while Shivakumar took over as the deputy CM.
During the cabinet formation, there were speculations that Hariprasad would be included in the cabinet. However, he lost the race for a ministership after Siddaramaiah is reported to have vehemently opposed his inclusion.
Both Hariprasad and Siddaramaiah are OBCs - from Ediga and Kuruba communities respectively.
Hariprasad, who is said to be sulking for sometime now over not being inducted into Karnataka cabinet, was speaking at a meeting of Ediga, Billava, Namdhari and Deevara communities on July 21.
Addressing the gathering, he said, "The community should be conscious. Whether I become a minister or not is a different question. I have already played a role in making five Chief Ministers in this country, whether it is Pondicherry (Puducherry) or Goa. In Jharkhand, I have done it alone. In Haryana and Punjab, I did it along with the AICC team."
Hariprasad claimed credit for making Bhupesh Baghel, a leader among the backward classes, as chief minister of Chhattisgarh. "So I very well know how to make some chief minister or to ensure someone steps down from the post... I will not bow down or beg. Let me make it clear. If any injustice happens, 'Koti Chennaya' (legendary Tuluva twin heroes) have thought about how to face it. Doing politics in Bengaluru for 49 years is not a child's game," he added.
Siddaramaiah has not commented on Hariprasad's statements.
