Gowda calls Siddaramaiah 'neecha' and 'authoritarian'

Upset for not allowing him to speak at the inauguration of Mahamastakabhisheka festivities at Shravanabelagola irecently, JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda on Saturday hit out at Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and termed him a 'neecha', and an authoritarian.

Addressing the party workers in Kengeri, Gowda lamented that he had committed a "blunder" by grooming Siddaramaiah in politics.

He was, however, quick to add that he also knew how to dislodge Siddaramaiah from the seat of power.

"I apologise to the people of the state for grooming such a neecha (wretched/villainous) chief minister. It has been the biggest mistake of my life. With Sonia Gandhi (former Congress president) becoming less powerful in the party, Siddaramaiah has started acting like a dictator. He is a low-level politician. But I know how to script his downfall," said Gowda.

Gowda, who is bristling over being sidelined during the inauguration of the 88th Mahamastakabhisheka, also accused Siddaramaiah of betraying him.

"He (Siddaramaiah) wanted my help when he wanted to win over the people of the state. But, after becoming the chief minister, he doesn't even allow me -- a former prime minister and a former chief minister -- to address the gathering during the Shravanabelagola function," added Gowda.

The former prime minister said that he would "expose" Siddaramaiah's misdemeanors as chief minister. "You are busy looting the treasury. But, you don't realise that your time is nearly up -- after all you are in the seat of power for next 120 days," he said.

Gowda said that he was striving hard to help his party come back to power. "I am the only politician in this country who can provide social justice. I am working hard day and night for this," he added.