INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
BENGALURU: Deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar on Monday created quite a sensation in political circles, claiming that efforts were on to
topple the Congress government in Karnataka, despite it enjoying a thumping majority."I have information about it (that some people are
hatching a plot to topple the government)
Instead of Bengaluru, they have chosen to go to Singapore this time," he said, reacting to a media query on speculation about efforts being
made to topple the Congress-led state government.In the 224-member assembly, Congress has 135 MLAs, while the combined BJP-JD(S) strength is
85.BJP rejected Shivakumar's claim and said that "no outsider is required to topple this government"
Shivakumar reportedly spoke about the "Singapore meeting" at a programme in Rajarajeshwari Nagar constituency on Sunday, where functionaries
from other parties were also present
On Saturday, too, DKS had raised this point twice.When asked to elaborate, he said: "Some BJP and JD(S) leaders are trying to have a pact
Enemies are becoming friends
This is what I could gather
They wanted to have a meeting in Bengaluru and in Delhi, but could not
Now tickets have been booked (for Singapore)
As a political party, we must keep a watch on everyone, right?" he said.The BJP, however, has dismissed Shivakumar's allegation as nothing
more than an effort to divert attention from Congress MLC BK Hariprasad's recent outburst against CM Siddaramaiah."No outsider is required
to topple this government
This government will be toppled by insiders," said former home minister Araga Jnanendra.The BJP MLA's comment is an allusion to a reported
infighting brewing within the Congress, with Siddaramaiah's supporters demanding action against Hariprasad, who recently made his
displeasure known over not being inducted in the state cabinet
Hariprasad said he wouldn't beg for a ministerial berth and knew how to bring down CMs and also make CMs
Congress' Karnataka unit secretary Varuna Mahesh has released a video, urging that Hariprasad be issued a show-cause notice for speaking
While Shivakumar did not name names, his statement came about a week after former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy's trip to Singapore and his
recent joint press address with former CM and senior BJP functionary Basavaraj Bommai.While the exact reason behind Kumaraswamy's latest
sojourn is still unknown, he had visited the place on several occasions in the past for medical check-ups.Shivakumar's close aides said the
former had got wind of a meeting in Singapore planned by a former CM, a former BJP MLA and a senior functionary of a national party
