“I’m Like Shiva Who Drank Poison”: Tearful HD Kumaraswamy On Coalition

Bengaluru :

Less than two months after taking charge of the government in Karnataka, Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy broke down at a meeting of his party, the Janata Dal Secular, yesterday, claiming that the coalition with the Congress was painful and comparing himself to Lord Shiva, who had drunk poison to save the world. His deputy, G Parameshwara of the Congress, however, brushed off the matter, saying a chief minister "has to be always happy".

The alliance between Mr Kumaraswamy’s Janata Dal Secular and the Congress, where the larger party chose to take a backseat to keep the BJP out of power in the state, was seen as a model for the anti-BJP front ahead of the 2019 general elections.

But over the last two months, the alliance walked a rocky road. Its many challenges included a tussle over portfolios and the presentation of the state budget, which Mr Kumaraswamy’s predecessor Siddaramaiah was not in favour of as he had presented a full budget in February.

Despite many BJP taunts about an "unholy alliance", both Congress and Mr Kumaraswamy had kept up a united front. But on Saturday, at a party meeting which was also meant to felicitate him, Mr Kumaraswamy became emotional.