Karnataka: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah while addressing the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday asserted that he has never indulged in "adjustment politics" throughout his political life. He further stressed that if someone will prove that he had indeed done so, he would immediately quit politics. Ministers also indulged in banter on who will be the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly. Taking a dig at senior BJP leader Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, CM Siddaramaiah said that he has information that the latter will not be chosen for the key position.
CM Siddaramaiah lashed out at BJP leader
Making an intervention to clarify on 'Gruha Jyothi' scheme, CM said, "Mr Yatnal, I thought you are a good parliamentarian, but you repeatedly intervening doesn't make you a good parliamentarian. I know that you are also one of the aspirants to become the Leader of Opposition, please don't be under the impression that by repeatedly raising objections and intervening you will be made opposition leader," Siddaramaiah said, as Yatnal raised repeated objections.
"It won't happen like that, please sit. They (BJP leadership) will make whomever they want as LoP. Don't be under the wrong impression that you will be made (LoP), just because you repeatedly intervene when someone is speaking. according to my information, they will not make you," Siddaramaiah added.
Leader of Opposition not appointed yet
BJP, which is the principal opposition party in the state, is yet to appoint the Leader of Opposition. After Siddaramaiah mocked him, Yatnal replied, "You are now predicting that I will not become the Leader of the Opposition, it means that I will become 100 per cent," he said.
Karnataka CM once again stated that he has information that Yatnal will not be made the LoP. However, Yatnal countered him by saying that this proves that the Chief Minister has indulged in "adjustment politics".
"You (Siddaramaiah) have information that I will not become LoP, it means you have entered into adjustment with someone (in BJP)," he said.
Siddaramaiah hit back
To this, Siddaramaiah hit back by stating that he has never done adjustment politics in his political career. "You can ask anyone, whether I have gone to any Chief Minister or Minister's house asking for any favour, while I was in opposition. I don't have such practice. I don't have the habit of making adjustments in my political life. I have been in this Assembly since 1983, Yediyurappa (BJP veteran) and I entered this Assembly together. Since 1983 to this day, if it is proven that I have indulged in adjustment politics with the opposing party, I will retire from politics immediately. I have not indulged in such a thing till today in my life," he added.
(with inputs from PTI)
