Cong not putting pressure on Kumaraswamy: H K Patil

Downplaying reported comments of Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy about working under pressure and alleged interference from coalition partner Congress, the party's state campaign committee chief H K Patil Thursday said any issue could be discussed with the party leadership and solved.

Reiterating his party's stand that both alliance partners -- the Congress and the JD(S) -- would face Lok Sabha polls together, the senior Congress leader said they would even go in for joint campaigning wherever necessary.

"I have seen media reports about Kumaraswamy's comments, but want to say that elected members may be putting pressure on the chief minister about development and constituency-related works. He should not feel that we are putting pressure (on him)," Patil said in response to a question.

Speaking to reporters here, he said, "If there are any such minor issues, he can discuss them with our leaders and solve them. Those issues can be solved, it is not a big issue."
When it was pointed out that Kumaraswamy had not given any indication about development or constituency-related work pressure from Congress MLAs, Patil said, "There can be no other pressure on the chief minister from our party other than on these matters."
Responding to reports that the coalition would face trouble after Makara Sankranti and questions were being raised about its longevity, Patil said, "Since the last seven months you in the media are speculating about differences in the coalition and its longevity. There may be celestial changes,but our MLAs won't change."