Indicating a strain in ties with the Congress, H D Kumaraswamy has said he was "not happy" as Karnataka chief minister and was swallowing pain like Lord Shiva who drank poison, but his party JD(S) today said all is well and the coalition government will last full term.
The Congress and the JD(S) had bitterly fought against each other for the May 12 Assembly polls, but joined hands to form the government as the election threw up a hung verdict.
Reflecting a strain in the alliance, Kumaraswamy broke down at a meeting of party cadres in Bengaluru yesterday, saying it was not the time for celebration.
"You are all happy that your elder or younger brother has become the chief minister, but I am not happy," he said at a function organised to felicitate him.
"I am swallowing the pain like Vishakantha (Lord Shiva who drank poison to save the world)," he said.
On seeing him wiping tears, the crowd shouted, "We are with you."
The BJP dismissed Kumaraswamy's emotional comments, calling him a "legendary actor" and accusing him of "fooling the common man."
The BJP state unit in a tweet said: "& the best acting award goes to..."
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