Bengaluru: The recent visit of Former Karnataka Chief Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy to Singapore has sparked intense speculation about a possible alliance between the BJP and the Janata Dal-Secular (JDS) for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The renewed camaraderie between the two parties has given rise to further intrigue.
Addressing reporters in Bengaluru, Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar acknowledged the existence of planned meetings in Singapore, adding to the mystery surrounding Kumaraswamy’s trip. He claimed to be aware of the alleged “game plan” related to the visit.
The timing of Kumaraswamy’s sudden journey to Singapore is noteworthy as it comes after an announcement made on the last day of the Assembly session. During a joint press conference, Former Chief Ministers Basavaraj Bommai and Kumaraswamy revealed their intention to join forces and challenge the Congress-led state Government both inside and outside the Assembly.
This is not the first time Kumaraswamy has traveled to Singapore following significant political events. After the 2018 Assembly elections, he visited the city-state and returned to Bengaluru just one day before the vote counting. Similarly, this year, Kumaraswamy flew to Singapore after the assembly polls concluded.
Amidst the evolving political landscape, the recent developments and Kumaraswamy’s visit have intensified speculations about a potential collaboration between the BJP and JDS in the run-up to the highly anticipated Lok Sabha elections.
Rumours of Siddaramiah Government’s Instability After BK Hariprasad’s Remark
Additionally, speculations about the stability of the Siddaramiah Government gained traction after a statement made by BK Hariprasad, a prominent Billava and Congress leader (MLC). In his remark, he implied that he knew how to make someone Chief Minister and bring them down, hinting at the potential for leadership changes.
Hariprasad’s statement has been the talk of the town for the past two days, particularly because senior leaders like him seem to have been sidelined after the 2023 Assembly elections. Hariprasad had been an essential part of the high command’s core team, leading the party’s campaign in Karnataka alongside Randeep Singh Surjewala and Venugopal, both General Secretaries of the Party.
Being associated with the Congress party for over four decades and having served as a Rajya Sabha MP for 19 years, Hariprasad was seen as a deserving candidate for a ministerial berth. His community, the Billavas, also held hope that he would secure a position in the Government.
While members of the Billava, Eediga, and Namdharis communities have been appointed as ministers (Madhu Bangarappa and Mankal Vaidya, respectively), the omission of Hariprasad has raised concerns. Pranavananda Swamiji of Narayana Guru Shakti Kendra, the sole Swamiji of the Billava community, expressed his disappointment over the injustice meted out to Hariprasad. He even had a meeting with Union Minister Sripad Naik, who is a prominent face of the Billava community, to address the issue.
The situation is gaining strength against the perceived mistreatment of Hariprasad, as community leaders come forward to advocate for his rightful inclusion in the government.