Congress government can have a third CM, says Vijayendra

Bharatiya Janata Party State president B.Y. Vijayendra has said that the Congress could have a third Chief Minister in the current term, as Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar was losing the confidence of the party’s legislators.

Speaking at the valedictory of the party’s Seva Sankalpa Abhiyana at Hosanagara on Wednesday, Mr. Vijayendra said it would not be a surprise if the Congress had yet another Chief Minister in the current term, after Siddaramaiah and Mr. Shivakumar.

He alleged that leaders of the ruling party were using the sting operation as a tool to remain in power. In the coming days, Congress legislators might speak openly on the issue, he said. Mr. Siddaramaiah, who played a prominent role in bringing the party to power, was being targeted through the sting operation. With these developments, the Chief Minister was losing the confidence of his party’s MLAs, he said.

Mr. Vijayendra also alleged that the State government had failed to come to the rescue of farmers in distress due to the severe drought. Instead of providing proper relief, the Chief Minister had announced ₹2,500, which would be insufficient considering the losses suffered by farmers, he said.

He demanded that the State government waive farm loans up to ₹5 lakh and announce relief of ₹50,000 per hectare.

Former Minister Harathalu Halappa and other party leaders were present at the programme.