Bengaluru, 16 Jan

Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy told IT/BT Minister Priyank Kharge to focus on the condition of his own party instead of commenting on others. Check how many of your ministers are from the JD(S) on lease, Kumaraswamy said.

Responding to Priyank questioning the relevance of the JD(S), Kumaraswamy asserted that Congress has no authority to “issue certificates” to his party.

“Let him first ask his father (AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge) how many Ministers in the Congress are from JD(S) on lease,” Kumaraswamy alleged. “From the Chief Minister (Siddaramaiah) downwards, do you know how many are originally from JD(S)?”

He further claimed that Congress' arrogance had cost it dearly in recent elections

The JD(S)–BJP alliance unsettled the Congress leadership, Kumaraswamy claimed, noting that the partnership restricted Congress to just nine seats in the last Lok Sabha elections. He further claimed that had the JD(S) not made certain “mistakes,” Congress would have been reduced to only three or four seats, despite their position of power in the State.

On Thursday, Kumaraswamy indicated that he would be focusing more on State politics.