Amid speculation over Karnataka elections, there’s talk about the possibility of a hung assembly, and H.D. Deve Gowda as the kingmaker. The former PM tells Ajay Sukumaran that people want a change from both the BJP and Congress.
How different are these elections?
The difference is that the maladministration of the present government has gone too deep into people’s minds. He (Siddaramaiah) has demolished various institutions. Take for example, the Lokayukta, Public Service Commission and the Bangalore Development Authority. Police officers themselves went to the extent of requesting protection and gave a memorandum to the chief secretary. These are all major issues today. He may say this bhagya and that bhagya, it’s irrelevant. Then, the BJP misrule—in five years there were three CMs. There were also several people who went to jail.
Kumaraswamy was CM for 20 months and certain decisions he took in the coalition government are still in the...
