Kumaraswamy says "I'm going with Congress to remove black spot on my father's career"

H D Kumaraswamy, who was elected as legislative party leader by the JD(S) MLAs today in Bengaluru, said that he is going with the Congress party to remove black spot from his father's career because of his past decision to go with the BJP in 2004 & 2005. Addressing media persons, he said, "I have been offered from both sides. I am not saying this loosely. There's a black spot on my father's career because of my decision to go with the BJP in 2004 & 2005. So, god has given me opportunity to remove this black spot. So, I am going with Congress."

Kumaraswamy said that "BJP's Ashwamedha Yatra started in north has been stopped in Karnataka. This verdict is to stop the Ashwamedha Yatra." He alleged that BJP is trying to bribe his party's MLAs saying, "JDS MLAs are being offered Rs 100 crore each. Where is this black money coming from? They are supposedly the servers of poor people and they are offering money today. Where are the income tax officials?"

In Karnataka assembly election verdict yesterday, BJP bagged 104 seats, a gain of 64, while Congress could win 78, a loss of 44 seats, while the JD(S) secured 37 seats, down by three from its previous tally.

In a swift political manoeuvring, the Congress reached out to JD(S) offering chief minister's position to H D Kumaraswamy to stop BJP. Congress Leaders Siddaramaiah, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Mallikarjuna Kharge along with JD(S) state Chief H D Kumaraswamy met Governor Vajubhai Vala and submitted a letter seeking an opportunity to form the government.

 "All India Congress party leaders after discussion have given a letter to our party president extending support ....On behalf our party, along with Congress leaders we have asked governor seeking an opportunity to form the government with the support of Congress, also two independent MLAs," Kumaraswamy, the alliance's chief ministerial candidate, said.

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Soon after Congress declared its support to JD(S), Kumaraswamy wrote to the governor informing him that he had accepted the offer.