‘I know how to make someone CM, how to ease them out’: B K Hariprasad kicks up storm

BENGALURU: Congress leader and MLC B K Hariprasad has stirred a hornet’s nest with his remarks that he knows how to make someone a Chief Minister and how to ease out one too. He even refused to withdraw his remark on Saturday and hinted that more developments in politics can be expected in the coming days.

Hariprasad, who is ostensibly sulking over being denied a ministerial berth in Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s Cabinet, said at a meeting of Edigas, Billavas and Dheevaras at a private hotel on Friday evening that the communities have not grown politically in the state despite efforts and suggested that they could be victims of a conspiracy.

Playing the caste card against the CM, Hariprasad said, “Siddaramaiah himself belongs to a backward community and we all supported him to that he would take everyone along. We (Edigas, Billavas and Dheevaras) don’t seek alms from either the Congress, the BJP, the CM or the ministers. We think about how all backward communities can be improved and there is no selfish motive in it. We had sought Rs 5 crore for a Koti Chennaiah park at Karkala in Udupi district to which Siddaramaiah had agreed, but did not release the funds”, he said.

Further, he said, “Siddaramaiah cannot help me politically in any way, rather I can help him. Edigas, Billavas and Dheevaras are strong in 11 constituencies, but tickets were denied to 2 Billava, one Ediga and one Dheevara candidates. Opportunities were denied to us in favour of minorities. Where we are strong, opportunities should be given to us. We are not asking for seats in Mandya or Belagavi. We are a decisive community in Uttara Kannada, Chikkamagalur and Kodagu districts”.

“We should stand united, otherwise we will be pushed to the fringes. Till 1985, excise contractors were running the government, but n 2008, Yediyurappa banned arrack. If the livelihood of some other community was messed with, there would have been bloodshed, but we shifted to selling paani puri and vegetables. Whether I become minister or not is a different issue. I have played a role in selecting five chief ministers. I know very well how to make some a CM and how to ease them out too. I don’t fear anyone, otherwise I could not have been in politics in Bengaluru for 49 years”, he remarked at the meeting.

On Saturday, Hariprasad refused to comment on his remarks but admitted to have made them. “I won’t take back my words and I stand by them. I was invited for the meeting and there were no cameras. If there were cameras, I would not have spoken. Wait and watch what happens in politics in the coming days”, he remarked cryptically.