Bengaluru
Union Minister and JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy launched a scathing attack on Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge, saying he has no authority to issue “certificates” on whether the Janata Dal (Secular) will survive or collapse. Kumaraswamy asserted that it is the people of the state who will ultimately decide the party’s future, not Congress leaders.
Reacting to Priyank Kharge’s remark that JD(S) is nearing extinction, Kumaraswamy said there was no need for such certification from him. He mocked the Congress by referring to what he called a “lease-based” system within the party, alleging that several leaders, including ministers and even the Chief Minister, were effectively “borrowed” from JD(S). He suggested Priyank Kharge should instead question his own party’s internal contradictions.
Kumaraswamy also took a swipe at Congress leadership tussles, claiming one faction believes its “lease period” is over and demands the chief minister’s post, while another insists on continuing in office. He warned that Congress should look at recent political developments in Maharashtra and Bihar, predicting that Karnataka could witness a similar outcome if the party continues with what he termed arrogance.
Questioning Congress’s development record, Kumaraswamy asked what achievements had earned the party power. He criticised both Mallikarjun Kharge’s long political career and Priyank Kharge’s ministerial tenure, asking what tangible work they had delivered. He reiterated that JD(S)’s fate would be decided by voters, not Congress leaders, and accused the Congress of fearing JD(S)’s revival. Kumaraswamy challenged them to wait and watch, saying the people would deliver the final verdict.
