Hitting back at H D Deve Gowda, former chief minister Siddaramaiah on Friday dismissed as "baseless" and "politically motivated" the JDS patriarch's allegation that he was responsbile for the collapse of coalition government headed by H D Kumaraswamy in Karnataka.
Siddaramaiah, a known bete noire of the former prime minister said, Gowda was hurling such charges out of "political hatred" and to project him as "anti-Vokkaliga" with an intention to weaken the Congress in old Mysuru region.
Holding Gowda and his son Kumaraswamy squarely responsible for the coalition government's fall last month, the Congress legislature Party leader challenged them to show at least one instance of his "interference" in governance.
"Deve Gowda has made some allegations against me, they are all baseless, politically motivated and false," Siddaramaiah told reporters here.
Gowda in the last couple of days has repeatedly blamed Siddaramaiah for the exit of the coalition government. On Thursday, he had said the Congress high command decided to make Kumaraswamy the chief minister without consulting Siddaramaiah and the latter could not digest it.
Seeking to turn the tables, Siddaramaiah, who was the coordination committee head of the coalition, said it was the 'unilateral' style of administration that led to collapse of the government, adding Congress had made all attempts to save the ministry till the last minute.
"I did not want BJP to come to power, so when Congress leaders from Delhi said the high command has decided that despite having 80 MLAs we should support the JD(S) with 37 MLAs. I accepted it without opposing it," he said.
On the other hand, the "truth is" Kumaraswamy, his brother and the then Minister H D Revanna and Deve Gowda were responsible, he said claiming that unilateral decisions and not taking MLAs and Ministers into confidence were the primary reasons that led to disgruntlement.
The coalition government collapsed on July 22 after the confidence motion moved by Kumaraswamy was defeated in the Assembly, bringing to an end his 14-month long turbulent tenure marked by dissidence within the Congress.
Accusing Gowda and JD(S) of making false allegations due to political motives and to cover up their own 'mistakes', Siddaramaiah said none of the decisions taken in the coordination committee were implemented.
He mocked at Gowda for his reported remarks that his (Siddaramaiah's) aim was to become the Leader of Opposition by ensuring fall of the coalition government, saying he had never seen any one pulling down a government to become LoP.
"This is nothing but illusionary thinking with political motives," Siddaramaiah said, wondering if Gowda was making allegations against him to keep the BJP leadership happy.
Sidaramaiah said he was never involved in "silly politics" of pulling down a government, while it was in "nature by birth" for Gowda and his son and held them responsible for the BJP coming to power in the state.
He also alleged Gowda always worked against those who support him and his party and cited various instances. "I was also in JD(S) with them, I know all their conspiracies."
Siddaramaiah, a protege-turned-rival of Gowda was expelled from JD(S) in 2005 as he tried to emerger as the leader of 'Ahinda' (Kannada acronym for minorities, backward classes and Dalits).
The leader also said he had suggested Congress and JDS contest the Lok Sabha polls without an alliance having friendly fights as both were arch rivals in old Mysuru region.
"Ultimately we agreed for the alliance following the high command decision," he said adding Gowda was now blaming him for the defeat of himself and that of his grandson Nikhil Kumaraswamy in Tumkur and Mandya seats respectively.
"For them only their family's growth is important," he charged adding Gowda projected those who oppose him or his family as anti-Vokkalinga.
Congress and JD(S) had bitterly fought against each other during the 2018 assembly polls, but joined hands after the elections threw up a hung verdict to keep BJP, the single largest party in the 225-member House, out of power.
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