Kumaraswamy joined hands with BJP as he has weakened politically: DK Shivakumar

DK Shivakumar. Pic/PTI

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Tuesday took a swipe at JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy, saying he has joined hands with the BJP because he has weakened politically, reported news agency ANI.

"Kumaraswamy thought he would be a kingmaker but people gave him only 19 seats (in 2023 assembly election). People gave 136 seats to Congress under my presidency," Shivakumar told reporters at the Congress Bhavan.

"He is getting restless. Kumaraswamy has joined hands with the BJP because he has weakened. Let him ask for my resignation, he is free to express his opinion. How can I stop him?" Shivakumar added, reported ANI.

Earlier this month, Kumaraswamy had demanded Shivakumar's dismissal from the Cabinet alleging that he is a "key conspirator" over the issue of circulation of obscene videos linked to Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna.

Kumaraswamy on Monday appealed to suspended party leader Prajwal Revanna, who is facing an SIT probe, to return to Karnataka and face the investigation.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and KPCC President DK Shivakumar on Tuesday called upon Congress party leaders and workers to prepare for the local body elections. He urged the party leaders and workers to prepare for it, reported ANI.

Speaking at the death anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi at the KPCC office, he said, "The local body elections will be held very soon and hence the Party leaders and workers must make all necessary preparations for it."

He cited the examples of many leaders who started their political careers through local body elections and then were elevated to the national level.

"Many leaders such as Pundit Nehru, Rajagopalachari, Kengal Hanumanthaiah, BD Jatti and Mallikarjuna Kharge started their political careers through local body elections and then were elevated to the national level. A time has come to reconstitute various wings of the Party. Priority will be given to those who have worked hard for the party. There is no place for those who are in politics for the privilege. Party workers can stake claim for positions once they have mobilised enough votes for the party at the booth level. It is not important how long I will stay as the KPCC President; I will build a strong base for the party before I go. We will prepare an action plan for it in the next 3-4 months, be prepared for it," he said, reported ANI.

He said that the credit for nurturing thousands of youth leaders goes to Rajiv Gandhi.

"Rajiv Gandhi sacrificed his life for the unity, peace and integrity of the country. The credit for nurturing thousands of youth leaders goes to Rajiv Gandhi. It was he who told the State leadership to prepare a second line of leadership in Karnataka and I became a minister for the first time as a result of that. It was Rajiv Gandhi who sent many youth leaders including me to an international youth conference where youth from 180 countries participated," DK Shivakumar said, reported ANI.

He lauded former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on local body reforms and his initiative to create leaders from the Panchayat level to Parliament level.

"The first file that I signed after assuming office as the Deputy Chief Minister was the replacement of an old statue of Rajiv Gandhi with a new one. The Yuva Shakthi Kendras which were established sometime back have been neglected. We will revive them. When I was a Zilla Panchayat member, Rajiv Gandhi spoke at a discussion on local body reforms and said we need to create leaders from the Panchayat level to Parliament level," he said, reported ANI.

Replying to a query on Kumaraswamy's allegation of phone tapping, he said, "He must have done such things in the past and hence he is trying to level allegations against me."

Reacting to the BJP's criticism about the zero performance of the Congress government in the State, he said that it is BJP's performance that is zero. "It took BJP seven months to elect its Opposition leader and it clearly indicates the inability of the BJP," he added.

(With inputs from ANI)