The JD(S) members on Tuesday said the Congress-led State government is actually a part of the Janata Parivar and that they are feeling like they are dealing with their own people.
JD(S) MLA Y S V Datta, a close aide of former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, said in the Assembly that he is happy to see several Janata Parivar leaders, including Siddaramaiah in the Congress government. “It looks like we are dealing with the Janata Parivar leaders,” he said and congratulated the Chief Minister for giving plum portfolios to leaders of the erstwhile Janata Party. “Despite opposition, you managed to get approval from AICC president Sonia Gandhi and got key departments for Janata Parivar leaders,” he said.
Siddaramaiah intervened and said, “Such jibes by you (Datta) will not divide us. We are all united.” Datta said he was speaking out of “affection for the Chief Minister”.
CM, whose fall-out with Deve Gowda led to him finally occupying the coveted CM post, reacted sharply saying: “Affection with ill intentions is bad.” The byplay triggered laughter in the House.
In the Legislative Council, Basavaraj Horatti of JD(S) maintained that leaders who were groomed in Janata Dal but joined the Congress have received plum posts to ensure better governance. “Our cattle are grazing in others’ fields. We hope they will return to their parent party,” he said.
Horatti said the Janata Parivar leaders will realign with their old roots. But Deshpande retorted: “We are happy here. JD(S) leaders should not dream of our return.”