From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Jan 26: “Congress party is like a big ocean. People come and go and the party has survived. One Jagadish Shettar leaving, will not make any difference,’’ asserted Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Friday.

Speaking to media persons at the State Congress office, Shivakumar, who is also the KPCC President, said the party stays unaffected irrespective of anyone joining or leaving.

“There are many people, who are looking forward to join the Congress party. Just wait and watch,’’ he said.

Shivakumar said, “Shettar had joined the Congress after his disillusionment with the internal affairs of the BJP. He had even made big accusations against the BJP. We had accommodated him as an MLC in spite of his defeat by 35,000 votes in the assembly elections. Despite BJP trying to establish contact with him for the last 2-3 months, Shettar was determined to stay in the party till a couple of days before.’’

Shettar’s MLC seat to Cong worker

“We had accommodated Shettar with a long-term view. Congress party leaders and workers from Belagavi district are happy about his exit,’’ he said declaring that the MLC seat which is vacated after his exit will be given to a loyal party worker.’’

The KPCC Chief made it clear that party will respond to the situation effectively.

To a question on AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge’s statement that only such persons, who agree to abide by the party’s ideology and policies must be admitted, he said: “We will certainly follow the instructions of our senior leaders.’’

Laxman Savadi will not quit

The Deputy Chief Minister said BJP will not succeed in luring Laxman Savadi.

“He (Savadi) is a senior Congress leader and a seasoned politician, He is an asset to the party and we respect him. He joined the party on his own even before Shettar. Savadi obviously knows BJP better than Shettar and therefore will not go back to the party. He joined the party on his own accord and Congress party will make use of his experience,’’ he said.

Answering questions on BJP’s attempts to lure Savadi, the KPCC Chief said: “BJP will not spare anyone and are trying to win over all the wavering persons. We are aware of their machinations. If we wanted, we too could have played similar games.’’

On BJP leader Sunil Kumar’s statement that BJP was bringing back all those who believed in the party’s ideology, he said: “We know what is BJP ideology and policy. What happened to their ideology when they formed the government by engineering defections of 18 Congress and JDS MLAs? Did they follow any ideology?’’

To a question that many Congress MLAs were in touch with the BJP, he retorted, “Shall I give you the long list of BJP MLAs being in touch with the Congress party? Just wait for some time and things will happen.’’

Responding to a question on whether BJP is trying to topple the Congress government before or after the Lok Sabha polls, he asserted that “BJP can do anything. But our government is stable and strong. Nothing will happen.’’

Constitution is Sacred

Wishing the people of the state on the 76th Republic Day, he said, “Constitution authored by Dr B R Ambedkar is a sacred document. It is the responsibility of the Congress party to uphold its sanctity.’’

“The history of Congress is the history of India. Only Congress party can take all sections of the society together. There are many discussions in the media about India bloc. We will fight the elections together,’’ he declared.

HDK is BJP spokesman

Shivakumar said JDS leader H D Kumaraswamy has become BJP spokesman after his party joined NDA following the rout of both BJP and JDS in the assembly elections and there is no need to give credence to his statements.

“Anything can happen in politics. We had supported JDS to keep BJP away. But today Kumaraswamy has joined hands with BJP, which brought down his government. Both JDS and Kumaraswamy are working as spokespersons of BJP,’’ he said.

Shivakumar said everyone knows the language Kumaraswamy used against BJP when his government was brought down. Today’s politics is shameful. Power comes and goes but we need to do clean politics.