Vijayapura: Public Works Department (PWD) Minister C. C. Patil has rebutted the speculations of Housing Minister V. Somanna is planning to quit the BJP and join the Congress.
“The reports are baseless as Somanna will not quit the BJP. I have already had a round of talks with him as he is one of my best friends,” he said.
Addressing mediapersons before joining the party’s Vijay Sankalpa Yatra on Friday March 10, he said that in no case, Minister Somanna is joining the Congress.
Asked about Somanna’s increasing proximity with Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President D. K. Shivakumar, Patil said that every politician has cordial relationships with leaders of different parties.
“But it does not mean that they are having some internal understanding. I am very close to many Congress leaders but it does not mean that I have any kind of internal pact with them,” he said.
Asked whether the continued agitation by the Panchamasali Community to demand 2A reservation will not adversely affect the party in the coming polls, Patil did not give any direct reply.
Admitting that the demand is justifiable, however it is a tricky matter also to deal.
“On the one hand, the Government has to consider their demand empathetically, on the other, the Government has the duty to check the legal and constitutional limitations also for meeting the demand. However I am confident that since the Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has taken a positive decision in this matter, I am confident that the issue will have an amicable solution,” Patil said.
On the reports of the party planning to deny ticket to some of the sitting MLAs for their poor performance, Patil said that in the election, for any party, the winning ability of any candidate plays a vital role.
“In State, we have to win at least 113 seats to form a simple majority. But to have a strong Government, we have to cross 113 mark. Our High Command knows well what is required to achieve that target as we have the most intelligent High Command,” he claimed.
Former MLC Arun Shahapur, District President R. S. Patil Kuchabal and other party leaders were present.
