'Difficult to follow coalition principles'

Janata Dal (S) leader A T Ramaswamy dubbed the coalition government as a train running on two tracks - Congress and the JD(S) - while warning Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy that upholding coalition principles would be a difficult task.

“Even if one railing on any of the tracks goes, the train will derail,” Ramaswamy said figuratively, in a cynical speech he made during the motion of thanks to the Governor’s address to the joint session. “Both Congress and JD(S) should uphold the coalition dharma, which is very difficult.”

He also hit out at Congress and JD(S) leaders who threw tantrums to become ministers. “I don’t know how the chief minister is handling pressure from those wanting to become ministers, those demanding specific portfolios, those demanding specific rooms, houses and so on. When will you work for the people?” he asked.

Pointing to the first two rows of the Assembly occupied by the coalition ministers, Ramaswamy said, “Do you think only those in the first two rows are eligible and qualified?”

Ramaswamy, who headed a joint legislature committee on encroachment of government lands in Bengaluru Urban district, said housing schemes fell short of land because they have been taken over by land sharks. “It’s not the poor. But the powerful who have encroached government by falsifying documents. But none is touched. If the government acts on a war footing, you’ll get the land you require for housing schemes,” he said.