Top Congress leader held talks with BJP for joining party after Lok Sabha polls: Kumaraswamy

Hassan: Former Karnataka Chief Minister and JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy on Sunday hinted at the fall of Congress government in the state after Lok Sabha polls and claimed that a top Congress leader had already held talks with BJP central leadership in this regard.

“A leader has gone to the leaders at the Centre with an application to join them after the Lok Sabha polls. He has sought relief for another six months so that he can join them with 50 or 60 MLAs," he told reporters.

However, Kumaraswamy did not divulge the name of the top Congress leader and said anything could happen as it did in Maharashtra.

"Something similar to what happened in Maharashtra can happen here too. Nobody is honest or committed to the party. They see their individual benefits. This has happened all along in politics," he said.

Though the Congress can boast about having 135 seats, but people know the situation prevailing in Karnataka Congress unit, Kumaraswamy said, hinting at the tussle between Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar.

Further carrying his attack on Siddaramaiah, Kumaraswamy said the CM is trying to create a wedge in the society on caste line in the garb of caste survey.

On Siddaramaiah's intentions to increase budget allocation for the development of Muslim community to Rs 10,000 crore, the JDS leader said he is not opposed to the grant of funds to the minorities, but queried why it should not be given to Hindus too as most of them are Dalits and poor. (UNI)