Bengaluru (DHNS): JD(S) state president H?D Kumaraswamy has said that his party is not a slave to either Chief Minister Siddaramaiah or the Congress party.

Addressing the reporters in Bengaluru on Monday, he said a section of the media has reported that there has been a secret understanding for the select 154 Assembly seats between the Congress and the JD(S) for the 2018 Assembly elections. The source for this report is the chief minister’s office, he charged.

“Why will be there an understanding between the two parties? Has this government provided succor to farmers and employment to youths? Let the Congress not misuse the name of the JD(S) to retain power. Nobody has surrendered the party to the Congress. The JD(S) wants to come to power,” he said.

Kumaraswamy said he would be touring certain districts of the north Karnataka from May 5 for a month to strengthen the party. A good number of programmes have been lined up, he added.

Stating that corruption is rampant in the state, Kumaraswamy said the Congress MLA of Tiptur in Tumakuru district had recently said that he had no money during the last elections. But this time, he has Rs 10 crore. “How did he become so resourceful? The chief minister should have sought an explanation from him. May be the chief minister himself is going to distribute money to the MLAs,” he said sarcastically.

Asked whether he would be lending support to the library supervisors’ protest demanding increase in salaries, the former chief minister replied in the positive. The protest rally is scheduled to be held at Freedom Park in Bengaluru on Tuesday.

“I am told a CD, showing Primary and Secondary Education Minister Tanveer Sait demanding a bribe of Rs six crore to meet the demand of the gram panchayat library supervisors, would be released at the rally. I spoke to Sait. He told me that he is unaware of it. He also said that without his knowledge, probably his driver or a PA of some minister must have raised money,” Kumaraswamy said.

Movie on Kumaraswamy
Kumaraswamy said he has given his consent for a movie that is being made on him. The movie, Bhoomiputra, may become a positive or a negative factor for him, he added.

Director S Narayan has announced that he would direct the movie based on the 20-month rule of Kumaraswamy as chief minister. Arjun Sarja would play the role of Kumaraswamy in the movie.

“The producer is one Prabhu. I believe he was benefited immensely because of a decision I had taken as chief minister. Hence, he wants to produce the movie. He is taking risk,” he added.