I was offered KPCC president post but refused: Former Karnataka minister M B Patil
VIJAYAPURA: Former minister M B Patil is known to have played a key role in raising the demand for a separate religion status tag to the Lingayat community. The Lingayat issue backfired on the Congress, which lost many constituencies that were under its hold in the recent assembly election. It is said that he was dropped from the Cabinet because of his key role in the Lingayat row. Patil, however, says that he is still hopeful and is looking forward to the Cabinet expansion. Excerpts from an interview.
Will you be given a berth in the next Cabinet expansion?
I am yet to be offered a Cabinet post. If they offer one, I will consider it. But I am happy to work as a legislator too. The party high command first had offered me KPCC president’s post, but I refused.
Is JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda blocking your entry into the Cabinet?
He was my father’s close friend. He can neither make me a minister nor stop me from becoming one. Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy have nothing to do with Congress developments.
Why do you think you were kept out of the Cabinet of the coalition government?
I don’t want to comment on this issue. I have expressed my views with the AICC president. Some bad things have happened and I don’t blame anyone. It is the biggest political lesson in my life.
After you met AICC president Rahul Gandhi, have dissident leaders stopped visiting your residence?
I did not invite any dissident leader to my house. They came on their own. The party high command should have accommodated senior leaders like H K Patil and Ramalinga Reddy in the Cabinet.
Did the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community dispute backfire for the Congress this assembly election?
The Lingayat issue was not the only reason for Congress’ defeat. There are many other factors for the party’s poor performance.
Will the JD(S)- Congress government successfully complete its term?
H D Kumaraswamy will complete his five-year term as Chief Minister. There will be hardships initially, but to run the government smoothly there needs to be better coordination, mutual trust and communication between the leaders.
What do you think of the coalition government’s budget?
The budget has to be read with Siddaramaiah’s 2018-19 budget. All the schemes announced by the previous government will continue. People have completely misread it.
In order to waive farm loans, the government has increased the prices of petrol and diesel. What do you think of it?
To waive rs 40,000 crore farm loan, the government has to mobilise resources. Such decisions may not be accepted by the people, but we don’t have any other option. Compared to other states we are getting petrol and diesel at cheaper prices.
Who must be credited for the farm loan waiver? JD(S) or Congress?
Farm loan waiver should not be credited only to JD(S). AICC president Rahul Gandhi is the one who permitted it. None of the leaders in the coalition government are allowed to take individual decisions. The decisions will be taken by the coordination committee leaders.