...
...
Next Story

‘I’m a strong CM, not a weak PM like you’: Siddaramaiah to Modi

The PM had alleged there are ‘CM-in-waiting’, ‘future CM aspirant’, ‘super CM’ and ‘shadow CM’ in Karnataka.

Published on: Mar 20, 2024, 11:23:41 IST
Advertisement

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday called Narendra Modi a weak Prime Minister who could not restrain the rebel leaders in the BJP. Siddaramaiah attacked Modi for his remarks against him on Monday during a public meeting in Shivamogga.

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah hits out at PM Modi.
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah hits out at PM Modi.

The Prime Minister had alleged, “There is competition in Karnataka to become partner in this loot. There are ‘CM-in-waiting’, ‘future CM aspirant’, ‘super CM’ and ‘shadow CM’. Amid many CMs, there is a collection minister in Delhi.”

READ | ‘JDS committing suicide by fielding Dr CN Manjunath on BJP ticket’: DCM DK Shivakumar

In response, Siddaramaiah said in a post on social media platform X, “What are you other than 'Weak PM' who can't take action against rebel leader Eshwarappa? Dear Prime Minister Narendra Modi, you said there are super CMs and shadow CMs in the Congress party! We have no super, no shadow, there is only one CM that is 'Strong CM', I am not a 'Weak PM' like you."

READ | Sulking BJP leader Sadananda Gowda hints he will reveal his political move on Wednesday

“Half a dozen leaders have rebelled against your leadership in Karnataka. Unable to get tickets, the BJP leaders are fighting on the streets, throwing mud at each other. They have not listened to any of your pleas. Some of them are also contacting us. Such a dance of indiscipline in the ‘disciplined party’! Isn't it because you are a 'Weak PM'?” the chief minister further asked.

He said when Modi was holding a public meeting in Shivamogga, Eshwarappa did not attend it even though he was at his house just a stone’s throw away from the venue. “Eshwarappa was constantly speaking against the BJP leadership. What are you other than ‘Week PM’ who can't take action against them?” Siddaramaiah asked.

READ | Union Minister retracts ‘Tamilians' claim on Bengaluru blast case suspect, says ‘remarks directed at…’

Claiming that the Congress is a party with internal democracy, Siddaramaiah said there are many people who deserve the post of chief minister. On the other hand there is not a single leader in BJP, which claims to be the largest political party in the world, who is eligible to become PM, he added. “Aren’t there any such leaders in BJP or are you not allowing others to grow, out of fear of losing your position?” he wondered aloud.

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yamini C S

Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.

Get the latest City News, local updates, weather alerts and breaking stories from Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and other major cities across India on Hindustan Times.
Get the latest City News, local updates, weather alerts and breaking stories from Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and other major cities across India on Hindustan Times.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Notifications

Get breaking alerts directly from the newsroom

Notifications are on!You'll be notified when news breaks