Shivakumar miffed with Revanna’s ‘meddling’; Karnataka CM Kumaraswamy feigns ignorance
BENGALURU: Barely days after newly-sworn in ministers took charge, differences are cropping up between coalition partners JD(S) and Congress.Major Irrigation and Medical Education Minister D K Shivakumar is said to be miffed with Public Works Department Minister and JD(S) leader H D Revanna for interfering in his work. While the Congress leader has been careful not to make his grouse public, Shivakumar’s anger against Revanna has been conveyed to Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, who continues to feign ignorance.
Revanna’s decision to transfer Irrigation Department officials, including senior engineers, has led to Shivakumar’s anger. “There was no need for Revanna to interfere in Shivakumar’s ministry. We have asked for the issue to be taken up during the coordination committee meeting,” a Congress office bearer said.Committee chairman and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah,however, refused to comment on the issue. “This meeting was about governance. Party-related matters were not discussed,” Siddaramaiah said after the meeting. Earlier in the day Kumaraswamy had claimed that no such complaints had come to his notice.
Within 24 hours of taking charge, Revanna ordered rapid transfers of officials including those from Shivakumar’s Water Resources Ministry. “Such issues are common in a coalition government. The coordination committee will take care of these things,” All India Congress Committee General Secretary in-charge of Karnataka K C Venugopal said.